Kiwi ingenuity scores abroad

By ROB O'NEILL

Three New Zealand internet innovators have met success in international markets, winning export dollars and promises of more direct foreign investment.

Ericsson closed a $6 million deal with Telecom Poland for its HiS (Home Internet Solution) technology, developed in Napier. HiS exports topped $40 million in the past year.

"The revenue earned on this innovation allows us to continue investing in further product and service development," said Brian Phillips, Ericsson's New Zealand solutions manager.

Ericsson's head office in Sweden funded the development of HiS and may now look to further its New Zealand investment. Mr Phillips said HiS had been tested in a number of countries and significant business was expected.

It provides PC users access to the internet and telephones simultaneously using one line by taking data traffic off the voice network.

Although not currently available in New Zealand, HiS can run on existing telephone lines, at around four times the speed of a typical modem.

The internet connection is always on, so the user does not have to dial up for access. The Napier team has gone on to the second phase of HiS design.

Mr Phillips said Telecom had tested HiS and was taking a further look at it. It was also being tested in Malaysia and sales were pending there.

Ericsson's presence in Napier is the result of it buying Hatfield Industries in 1983.

Christchurch software developers South Pacific Information Services and Phasis have been successful with their TurboPress web-publishing product. A Singaporean publisher is the first buyer of the application, developed with the assistance of Technology New Zealand.

The two development companies have formed a joint venture, WebCentre, which has been floated privately to market TurboPress.

Christchurch's Pulse Data International has allied with Microsoft to build the world's first Windows CE portable computer for the blind.