| business Today | After a long day at work, searching through hundreds of television channels often feels like a chore. But local television is now more interactive and personal than ever thanks to a new device launched in August that allows users to record, pause and rewind their favorite television shows live, upload files from a hard driver and create their own media library. What makes this innovative technology so unique is that it’s not an import it’s actually the brainchild of an Egyptian technopreneur. In 2006, Ahmed Metwallv co—founded Connectme TV to revolutionize digital media in the Arab world.
Two years later, he began work on the company’s first product, the Lyngbox, with financing from the state-hacked Technology Development Fund. The result is the Egyptian version of the popular Tivo digital recorder.
‘We developed a product in the category of Hybrid IP TV. It’s supposed to give users a new television experience, where they can interact with TV at a much more advanced rate than they’re used to today,” says Metwallv, the company’s CEO.
The Lyngbox stands out as one of the few locally—produced pieces of technology to succeed: it holds 50% of the high—end digital recorder market in Egypt, according to the company.
With Lyngbox, users can rewind, fist forward or pause any channel, as well as program the box to record a show that will air later using the Personal Video Recorder feature. The Lyngbox can also play media files and display photos from a USB or external hard drive.
But it’s not just a hands recorder and media player. Users have access to the normal variety of satellite television functions, which include searching for their favorite channels or programs and previewing what’s on next via the television guide. And like many new satellite packages, the Lyngbox broadcasts high definition television using the box’s HD adaptor.
(If a consumer does not have a high definition television, the Lyngbox automatically upgrades the standard definition viewing resolution to the best resolution possible.)
The technology also updates its programming automatically, keeping users in the 1oop about the Lyngbox’s newest offerings. (One of the latest features allows people to get their Lyngbox to record a program using the ConnectmeTV’s book application.)
Homegrown Challenge
Even though the box’s hardware is manufactured outside of Egypt, the software is developed here, which has its pros and cons, says Metwally. He says everyone at his company was used to working on ad hoc projects for foreign companies, but were rarely asked to develop a product from start to finish. There’s a huge difference between working on a project and developing a product. Not a lot of people in the country here have that experience so we definitely faced some challenges and I’m sure that we continue to face other challenges,” says Metwally.
Another challenge the company fated was marketing the product to local consumers who tend not to trust or purchase Egyptian—made technology.
‘People are not used to innovation coming from Egypt and they’re not trusting when it comes to Egyptian-made products,” Metwally adds.
That’s why ConnectmeTV has focused promoting the service to knowledgeable, tec h—savvy consumers who are interested in new technologies instead of marketing Lyngbox to the general public. And so far, it’s been a sound recipe for success. Lyngbox, which sells for LE3,500, is gaining ground against more established satellite television providers.
So far we’ve been quite successful, says Metwally. We’re continuing to innovate. We’re introducing new services almost every four to six weeks now, so our customers are quite excited, always waiting for the next service.”
Metwally is also enjoying the perks that come with being one of few locally—based tech developers, which include receiving recognition from Egypt ‘s burgeoning technology development sector and ongoing support from the government.
He says the Minister of Communication and Information Technology Tarek Kamel visited the company’s booth at the ICT 2010 Conference, despite the fact that ConnectmeTV’s booth was dwarfed by several larger companies participating in the fair.
The CEO is optimistic that more companies will begin developing technology here because the funding is available, but adds that firms must approach these kinds of projects in the right way or risk failure.
There is a lack of product development in Egypt. We have a lot of brain power that is not necessarily properly utilized.” says Metwally.
In terms of innovation, we see lots of innovations that don’t materialize despite there being a great push [to create these kinds of companies] ,“ he adds, “and 1 think lately there has been a push in terms of investments and funds that the government is allocating.” |
