Location-Based SMS Firm LocaModa Gets $6.18 Million Funding; From Mahindra and Reliance Ports

This is a bit unusual for these two Indian companies: LocaModa, a developer of location-based SMS service based in a Somerville, MA, USA, has raised $6.18 million in its first round of funding, according to a regulatory filing, picked up by PEHub. Investors in the round include Dace Ventures, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. and Reliance Ports & Terminals Ltd.. The company’s solution enables interactivity between mobiles and out-of-home networks (billboard, displays, etc) via the web. One example is games played on large digital displays in cafes, mall food courts and others, where users can interact and join in the games..the company called it Wiffiti screens. The company was founded by Stephen Randall, a former EVP and founder of Symbian.

I’m assuming both Mahindra and Reliance plan to roll out such mobile-to-screen interactive services across India, through their subsidiaries.

locamoda2Nikhil adds: I’d tried LocaModa’s solution while I was in Boston in May. What you see on the right is an LCD display at a shop window at Newberry Street. I dialled a number mentioned on screen, and was connected to the display. I was then able to use the handset as a remote control to access different real estate properties, and view property details. One issue that I see with such a product is that only one user can connect to the screen at one point in time…maybe more in case of games. Another photo here.

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