Emtec augments application development and integration capabilities through acquisition of SARK Infotech.
It’s all about the apps.
Since the pioneering days of application development — when punch cards powered Jacquard’s loom and Babbage’s analytical engine — the evolution of computers has depended upon advances in the quality of the instructions that make the machines work. That remains true in the modern computing era, with innovative software driving rapid uptake of Web 2.0 technologies, cloud computing and mobile platforms.
As part of its continued growth strategy in 2010, Emtec, Inc., recently completed an acquisition designed to enhance its ability to deliver robust application development and integration projects to meet the evolving business demands of its clients. The acquisition of SARK Infotech gives Emtec a strong platform for the development of embedded software, Web applications and more.
“We are committed to growing our business organically and by acquiring companies that help us expand our service offerings and solutions for our clients,” said Dinesh Desai, chairman, CEO, and president of Emtec. “We are confident that through the acquisition of SARK, Emtec has taken another step forward in expanding our footprint worldwide and look forward to continued growth in our key focus areas of systems integration and application services.”
Web, Mobile Apps Key
SARK concentrates on developing web-based applications using primarily Open Source and Microsoft .NET platforms and offers a wide range of services, including network and system management solutions, interactive transactional solutions, and software development, maintenance and migration. SARK also has capabilities to provide embedded software development for Network Processing Unit (NPU) based networking software, wireless applications for handhelds and PDAs, device drivers and other devices and components. The expertise in these areas will allow Emtec to provide a wide array of solutions for its customers using web and mobile technologies simultaneously.
Embedded software is playing a particularly important role in the rapidly changing computing landscape. Organizations are beginning to capitalize on the increased capabilities of today’s powerful new embedded applications to extend the reach of corporate systems directly to devices. Embedded applications now power everything from household appliances and medical equipment to popular gaming systems and advanced mobile devices.
In fact, analysts say the embedded software market is on the brink of massive expansion, largely due to its ability to enable mobile computing platforms. According to Morgan Stanley, global deployment of embedded systems will contribute to a marketplace of more than 10 billion mobile consumer devices by 2020.
Driven by increasingly sophisticated mobile applications, mobile Internet usage is quickly growing to be at least twice as large as the desktop Internet in terms of subscriber numbers, according to Morgan Stanley. The financial services firm forecasts that mobile IP traffic will grow 66 times by 2013, and predicts that smartphones will out-ship the global netbook and notebook market this year and the overall global PC market by 2013.
The rapid adoption of smartphones and the proliferation of application stores are the major drivers for this expansion, according to ABI Research. The firm says 2010 will be a big year for mobile applications, with almost 6 billion mobile apps forecast to be downloaded, up from an estimated 2.4 billion in 2009. The debut later this year of two new smartphone platforms, Samsung’s Bada OS and Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 Series, likely will have proprietary application stores racing to populate these stores with winning applications.
Good Track Record
SARK Infotech already has developed one such appealing mobile app. The Mumbai, India-based firm previously went to market with DoorDrishti, an application that allows users to employ their handheld devices for live video surveillance. The application allows users to define/configure an unlimited number of IP cameras mounted at remote locations and watch video from any of the cameras. Suitable for iPhone, Windows Mobile, Android or Symbian devices, the software features an authentication mechanism to ensure privacy.
“We are looking forward to becoming part of the Emtec team and increasing the breadth of our offerings,” said Mayank Shah, cofounding director, SARK Infotech. “As a company, we are focused on becoming recognized globally as a noted player in the Web and embedded technologies industry and our merger with Emtec will directly support that objective. “
“With the addition of our services, Emtec will expand its global footprint and further enhance its comprehensive portfolio of services,” added Kiran Ambardekar, cofounding director, SARK Infotech.
Emtec’s previous acquisitions over the past two years include KOAN-IT, which specializes in Information Technology Service Management (ITSM) methodologies; Luceo, Inc., which provides a broad range of software consulting services such as ERP software implementation, application development, systems management, support, database and systems administration; and Aveeva and eBAS, offering a broad range of software consulting services such as business analysis, quality assurance, testing, and training, as well as SAP, CRM, Oracle Apps and Java-based solutions.
