RIP: Emblaze kills First Else
By Thomas Ricker 
posted June 30th 2010 4:41AM
posted June 30th 2010 4:41AM
So there's still hope that we'll see the First Else user experience applied elsewhere if Emblaze can find a buyer. See the full release after the break.Due to critical delays in deliveries and the current status of the project, the board has now decided to cease any further investment towards manufacturing of the First ELSE mobile device and to concentrate efforts only on licensing the ELSE Intuition platform and technology in order to realize its potential upside.
[Thanks, Yair M.]
Ra'anana, Israel, 30 June 2010 - Further to the management statement dated 18
June 2010, Emblaze is hereby providing the following updates:
ELSE Mobile
In October 2007, the Company announced that its subsidiary, ELSE Ltd. (formerly
Emblaze Mobile), partnered with ACCESS CO. LTD and Sharp Corporation, embarked
on an ambitious project targeted to introduce an innovative approach to mobile
experience.
In November 2009, ELSE first unveiled the First ELSE# mobile device, which was
designed to showcase the capabilities and advantages of ELSE Intuition#, its
new Linux based mobile platform.ELSE's products attracted excitement and
interest from potential partners, as well as the media and mobile analysts, for
its unique innovation and user experience.
ELSE' management have since invested considerable time and effort to secure a
partnership for the sale of the First ELSE mobile devices. While there was
encouraging interest in the device by potential partners, management was not
able to confirm a deal on terms acceptable to Emblaze to proceed to the
production of the device.
Due to critical delays in deliveries and the current status of the project, the
board has now decided to cease any further investment towards manufacturing of
the First ELSE mobile device and to concentrate efforts only on licensing the
ELSE Intuition platform and technology in order to realize its potential
upside.
This decision will drastically reduce the Company's operational and development
costs and will positively contribute to its route to profitability.
The Company's management believes that this decision aligns well with the
Group's overall core competency and skills in the software arena, which
includes the following:
Formula Systems
Formula Systems, through its subsidiaries, is engaged in the development,
production and marketing of information technology solution and services. Its
appealing offerings coupled with aggressive cost-saving measures have made
Formula resilient to the recession and enabled its constant growth in revenue
and net income. For the period ending 31 March 2010, Formula reported
significant improvement in profitability with net income attributable to
Formula of $4.8 million, an increase of 41% compared to $3.4 million in first
quarter of 2009.
Going forward, Formula will continue to focus on profitability as well as
accretive acquisitions.
Emoze Ltd.
Emoze Ltd. is providing transparent, synchronized mobile push-messaging
solutions that include email, PIM (contacts and calendar) and a push content
platform for consumers, mobile operators, manufacturers and enterprises. Emoze
eliminates the need for mobile devices to check or poll servers, allowing for
real-time messaging on a far wider range of mobile devices.
Emoze can actually transform most low-end mobile devices into BlackBerry -like
devices, providing the same push mail, PIM and content service. Thanks to its
novel and efficient technology, Emoze is able to provide the ideal low-cost
push solution for the mass market.
ZONE-IP
ZONE-IP Ltd. of which Emblaze holds 71%, is engaged, through its subsidiary
Emblaze VCON Ltd., in the development and deployment of high-performance,
end-to-end videoconferencing solutions over IP and ISDN networks for
enterprises of all sizes, focusing on desk top solutions.
The Company would like to use this opportunity to provide update on additional
ongoing matters as follows:
Patent infringement:
In December 2009 the Company informed the market that it has notified Apple2
Inc. that the HTTP Live Streaming Application announced by Apple and its use in
Apple's iPhone and iPod2 touch (and recently in the iPad) devices, infringes
Emblaze's patents for media streaming technology. In February 2010, the Company
also notified Microsoft Corporation that its Smooth Streaming system infringes
on Emblaze's patents for media streaming technology.
The Company is currently engaged in discussions with both Apple and Microsoft
with the aim to reach an amicable resolution by licensing said IP. The Company
will evaluate its course of action pending the results of such discussions and
will provide an update to the market when it is appropriate to do so.
HM Revenue Customs
As reported by the Company in April 2007, the Company's UK subsidiary, Emblaze
Mobility Solutions Limited, is involved in a dispute with the HM Revenue
Customs ("HMRC") regarding a decision made by the HMRC to withhold VAT
reclaims and raise an assessment relating to VAT return in the sum of
approximately £8.8 millions. The legal proceedings in this matter are still
ongoing and it is expected that the closing submissions will be scheduled for
July 2010. Further update will be provided following developments in this
matter.
Malam claim
On 7 March 2001, Malam Systems Ltd. filed a claim against Geo Interactive Media
Group Ltd. (now Emblaze Ltd.) and against its founding directors claiming for
approximately 29% of the Company's issued share capital. The Company's legal
advisors as well as its founding directors were (and still are) of the opinion
that there are no merits to the claim. Nevertheless, the Company's board of
directors decided to settle this claim by payment of US$1 million by the
Company as the legal costs alone were expected to reach such an amount. The
Company expects to recover part of its payment from its insurers.
The thumb-centric fan interface looks cool, but has at least two problems: left-handed users won't be happy, and the narrow slices obviate use of graphical icons. Pictures are better than text for iconic representation.
the interface looked cool =(
they should just put the Else UI on a stock android base then use a generic chinese handset. The whole thing seems like a lot of faffing around rather than getting hardware out the door. The other option is to offer the else UI as an app on android or meego.
I can see how a they're opting for licensing, but if that doesn't work out I can only chime in with other posters here, sell it directly to consumers as a skin or software suite as the interface looks very tempting.
Too bad. I was kind of looking forward for this. UI is quite unique.
cool...
also check this UI for a mobile photo manager: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCI11RBSUlo
more here: http://m.ilook.ro/?id2=0000
I find myself mildly entertained by reading the original announcement of this device and the comments by people arguing for and against its vapourware status. This is the reason why I am generally uninterested in a product announcement unless is it currently shipping or has something that resembles a firm date from a reliable company. It seems that any one can pretty much produce an interesting prototype but actually bringing the concept to market, particularly a global one, is something entirely different.
Maybe if they'd of used cornflour blue instead of that neon blue.
.......and we hardly knew her.......
well..... i was hoping for a one-hand operable smartphone..... guess that'll have to wait.... :(
let's face it, as a standalone company, this device stood no chance. i don't think they'd partnered with any carriers. did it have an ecosystem like itunes or the app store? the smart phone market is SO hypercompetitive (not sure if that's a word) this probably would have gotten lost, been outdated in 3 months, and/or not been able to keep up with the blazing innovation seen in the market. it HAD to be bought by someone. wish they had been bought before it being killed, but hopefully someone will buy it and put the UI on something, maybe on top of 3.0 (called meringue i think). so, HP just bought palm, who's buying emblaze? nokia?? ah come on, that'd be cool. get rid of the symbian font!
@balwheeler *android 3.0, that is
Am I the only person who actually reads the articles and not just the headline and the picture?!
They said:
"the board has now decided to cease any further investment towards manufacturing of the First ELSE mobile device and to CONCENTRATE EFFORTS ONLY ON LICENSING THE ELSE INTUITION PLATFORM..."
To me that sounds like they're saying, "We're not going to follow the icarian path trying to compete with our own handset and software. Instead we're just going to focus on the awesome software and sell it to somebody who will put it on a phone."
This sounds like a great idea to me. Its what I said they should have been doing from the outset. Focus on making a great UI and sell it to phone makers.
Worked for Google.
LOL it looks like they are claiming microsoft and apple are infringing on their IP as well...that's hilarious -- if you can't ship your product, you can always threaten lawsuits! This company is ran by chimpanzee jews.
as predicted.....
hmmm.. maybe I'll just have to design my own UI based on this now..
AND MAKE MILLIONS OF DALLARS
anyone want to help?
man i would totally buy this if it had an ips screen and wasn't vaporware
I'm 12 years old and what is this?
That's too bad. I actually found this to be a pretty smart concept. and nice looking as well. I'm sure someone will scoop this up.
Please release the shell for use with Android. Internet users can do for free what cost your lazy asses forty million dollars. Seriously, how can you not complete a basic phone operating system with FORTY MILLION DOLLARS? I hope those investors had some sort of protection... they need to take everything they can from these bozos.
I'd like to see that run on a tablet
It..was...so..young....so...beautiful...*sniff
The UI looked amazing. Probably would've taken a little bit to get used to, but still, very different. I liked it and was planning on getting the phone if it came out. Now I just have to hope the UI doesn't die out, but unfortunately I have a feeling it will.
Basically the state of the economy plus all the new handset competition killed this. They saw the Evo4G, the iPhone4, DroidX, HTC incredible etc. and the board gave up.
I did want to see this phone though. I really liked the UI. Hopefully HTC, Samsung, or Sony pick it up and keep it in the game somehow. Imagine if HTC bought it and integrated it with Sense. Could be cool.
Feel bad for the awesome interface :(
NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
My hopes and dream shattered in an instant!!!!
I was so looking forward to this.
I was actually really excited for this sad day
Apple should buy the Else UI and integrate it into iOS to make it superior to anything ever to come to the market.
im left handed.
Why doesn't Samsung ditch TouchWiz and pick this up?