Touchpoint Receives Research Grant To Further Develop Unified Messaging Technology.
Auckland based Touchpoint Limited has received a $60,000 research grant to further develop the unified messaging
technology used within the core of its marketing automation products.
The grant has been made as part of the Grants for Private Sector Research and Development (GPSRD), a government scheme
introduced in June 2000 with the intention of increasing the level of private sector investment in research and
development in New Zealand.
The 12-month grant will pay for a third of the proposed $180,000 research programme that Touchpoint will carry out, to
further extend the technology within the proprietary Digital Communications Switch component used at the core of its
products.
“We are delighted that the importance of this research into practical Unified Messaging has been recognised in this very
positive way, says Steve Shearman, Managing Director of Touchpoint.
“The grant allows us allocate additional resources towards this research, and its successful completion will result in
new products being brought to market quicker, as well as eventually providing new opportunities outside of our current
markets.”
Potential applications for the resulting technology will allow systems to communicate (with people or other
applications) via multiple channels without requiring any prior knowledge of the specific channels the messages will be
delivered over.
For example accounts software that will not only generate invoices, but also deliver them via Fax, Email or Post through
a single network service provider. In this scenario the receiver or network, and not the sender/application may
determine the actual channel for delivery. This approach to messaging potentially provides for huge savings for
companies in post, print and data entry costs, as well as giving end consumers more control over how they wish to
receive communications.
According to Steve Shearman, the award is a great boost for the development team after two successful years of
developing the technology behind the current products.
Although Technology New Zealand awards a number of grants for research in the areas of biotechnology, manufacturing and
telecommunications, grants for software related research are harder to qualify for due to the strict definitions of
research when applied to software.
“We’re thrilled to have been awarded funding towards this research, and are looking forward to the day we make the
resulting technology available our customers in New Zealand and Overseas.”
About Touchpoint
Touchpoint is an independent New Zealand company that provides marketing automation software and solutions for
marketers. Specifically, Touchpoint manages both outbound and inbound marketing communications across a variety of
channels including email, direct mail, website, fax and mobile phone. Touchpoint is used by GlaxoSmithKline, Sanitarium
Health Foods Southern Cross Healthcare, IDG, Telecom Directories Limited and Xtra. Touchpoint also works with partner
agencies including Nebula, Brave New World, PPR, Publicis Rainger, Robbins Brandt Richter and Terabyte.
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