Chinese IT giant Huawei mulls tie up with ICTV, Next Mobile

MANILA, Philippines - Information technology giant Huawei is exploring the possibility of entering into a “business relationship” with a Philippine company that would boost the latter’s presence in the information and communications technology space.

China’s Huawei International Pte. Ltd. and its local unit Huawei Technologies Phils. Inc. have entered into a memorandum of understanding with publicly-listed Information Capital Technology Ventures Inc. (ICTV) and subsidiary Next Mobile Inc., an agreement which ICTV officials said will greatly enhance the information capabilities of both ICTV and Next Mobile since the two local companies will be partnering with the world’s largest IT company.

The MOU was signed last Sept. 2 during the Philippine-Eastern China Business Forum in China.

ICTV said the parties intend to explore the possibility of entering into a business relationship which will allow each party to provide its respective contribution in order to attain the common purpose of implementing Next Mobile’s nationwide build-up plans.

Through the efforts of IMX Broadband Inc., a certificate of registration as a value added service provider and voice-over-internet protocol provider (VOIP) in 2006 by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) was granted to ICTV. The registration allowed ICTV to operate and maintain VOIP services in all cities and municipalities nationwide.

In 2008, the Securities and Exchange Commission approved the change in ICTV’s primary purpose into telecommunications, media (except mass media) and technology. Its new primary purpose covers the business of providing telecommunications, media, and information technology products and services. These include telecommunications value-added service (VAS) through companies duly licensed to engage in wired and wireless, fixed and mobile communications; software and hardware technology, business process outsourcing, call center and other information technology applications; digital media and other media except mass media; as well as activities directly or indirectly connected to these.

In the last four months of 2010, ICTV entered into an agreement for the purchase of a 50 percent equity interest in three separate companies, namely, Softrigger Interactive Inc., which is an IT solutions and services provider with expertise in architecture and planning technology consulting, and enterprise project management; Holy Cow Animation Inc., which is engaged in the business of providing computerized animation services for film and/or television; and Softweb Consulting Inc., which offers IT consulting services and reseller of software and hardware and other related products.

Last March 17, the ICTV board confirmed the establishment of the company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries J-Span IT Services in Tokyo, Japan and iResource Consulting International Inc. in the Philippines.