TETHRAS.COM:A UCD-BASED company has developed a technology that allows mobile app developers to publish their products through different languages. Tethras was established earlier this year by Brian Farrell and Brendan Clavin, who decided to develop their technology after researching expanding market sectors in a search for business opportunities.
“It was difficult to ignore the unprecedented growth in the mobile apps sector. We were focusing our attention on opportunities that serviced this rapidly expanding market, rather than developing our own apps.”
Farrell says because more than 70 per cent of the 166,000 apps in iTunes are only available in English, and more than half device users are non-native English speakers, “the potential became obvious”.
App developers can use the Tethras technology to generate multiple language versions. “No human interaction is required with our customers to produce the end product. This is the polar opposite of the current localisation business, which provides a relationship-based service that is people intensive.”
Tethras is part of the NovaUCD programme and has also been approved for a €15,000 HPSU feasibility grant. It has also set up a US office.
“Our target customers are the rapidly growing pool of apps developers spread across all of the smartphone platforms – iPhone, Android, Blackberry,” says Farrell. The name refers to a mythical Celtic god and is phonetically linked to the iconic Tetris game. The company is planning to launch its product in July.
