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14 October creator of the popular game project PocketPref, company Antares Software from Veliky Novgorod, 5 years old. For this small by human standards of living cut, developers have grown out of student fans in the confident and knows his own worth professionals. If we take the facts and figures, the Antares team has increased from 10 to 45 employees and opened her own company in the U.S.. However, Dmitry Tsymbal, Founding President of the Novgorod company is not going to stop there. Once and for choosing the main focus of the development of software for mobile devices, he decided to bring to life a truly Napoleonic plans that and tell in an interview with our site. HPCru: What global changes have occurred since our last interview, that is the end of 2002, Antares Software? D.TS.: Our business has seriously increased due to the fact that we managed to polish all internal processes. In addition, we finally decided on the top area - developing software for mobile devices, and now trying different methods. One of the most promising - outsourcing of large companies in this field. HPCru: Very actual means of survival. On what specific companies do you mean? D.TS.: About Us-producing equipment - mobile phones and handheld computers. Under the agreement, I have no right to call them, but I will say that these companies are in the top three in the mobile industry. HPCru: I think you can guess who they are. In short, market realities are not forced to change you specified at the start establishing Antares'a rate. It's - it's nice. D.TS.: Yes, the majority of development Antares Software accounted for the mobile sector. In this case, our business model implies a 30 per cent of sales of own products and 70 percent of outsourcing. In the future we plan to achieve the ratio 50x50 - in our opinion, it is more flexible and rewarding scheme. HPCru: What platforms are you currently working? D.TS.: This is still a Palm, Windows Mobile, Symbian and J2Me. HPCru: Which one do you prefer? D.TS.: Of course, Windows Mobile is now published in a leading position, although I can not say that we prefer it to others. However, judging by the volume of work, more food is produced specifically for the OS. HPCru: Clearly, if you tell for which user you are - Russian or foreign? D.TS.: We work for export, that is focused on the U.S. market. There, the fruits of our labors are successfully sold, so that we even have registered Antares Software in the USA. Anticipating your question, I will say what we are doing basically the software that can be attributed to the so-called class lifestyle, that is for everyday use. It's - different diets, planners, and so on. Unfortunately, I can not call these products by name. HPCru: An interesting niche. How do you determine what needs to be an American user? D.TS.: We have developed a strategy: make a product and then come with him to a potential buyer - a company that, say, helps to organize the wedding. In America, this whole industry. HPCru: Yes, and we have in general too ... D.TS.: Well, yes. However, in one such company in the United States can be ordered at once, and clothes and car, and hair, flowers, dinner, and music. It is clear that the event - a serious, so you need everything properly plan and coordinate actions. So our program is helping the bride and groom to schedule training for the wedding, take into account all costs and nuances, and most importantly - keep all the information in a convenient form for the Pocket PC. In fact, a much needed solution. HPCru: Of course:) The familiar problem ... D.TS.: So we're doing such software, we come to it in the appropriate company, where the program has been tested, then put it on your brand and sell as a companion product. In short, we do not have a headache on its promotion and marketing in general. This is not our business. HPCru: Such tactics are getting a brand justifies itself? D.TS.: Absolutely.We have already received so two of the contract. And experience shows that our software quite successfully sold. In addition, we are releasing several diets, Planner, that is, pocket diaries for those who, for whatever reasons must observe certain rules of supply. All these products are made for Windows Mobile, and for the Palm. HPCru: Well I have to pay foreign clients? D.TS.: We have, incidentally, overseas customers are not so much. Directly abroad is, of course, the contracts, but their share is small. Those who have, pay fine, we are in general satisfied with ... Although could pay, and more:) But it's not just about money. We are interested in our work, we are interested to live, socialize, travel around the world. And it is - the main thing. It's nice that we have already formed a certain style and spirit of the corporation. Yes, probably, now we can not boast that we are the richest company in Russia, but on the opportunities and potential we are quite on the level. Any our member can simply drop in at any corporation. And such corporations in the territory of Russia, I can name at least four. For example, I trained at the company's Intel. HPCru: C overseas market is more or less clear, but would like to see domestic and something to fall intermittently on the Antares Software. You are already working in this direction? D.TS.: Yes, we are engaged in child education projects, which plan to present both in the form of games, as well as various image editors for the Pocket PC to Pocket PC. If the child still plays with the "Pocket", so let at least use some of that will. Again, specifically I can not yet tell what will constitute our software for children, as well as to voice the title. HPCru: Then tell me at least when its expected? After all, for this audience today, few of the developers something to release:) D.TS.: I think that after the new year. These products we are releasing under his own name, so readers HPCru hear about it first. HPCru: Thank you, we will wait for the announcement. In general, how do you assess for themselves the Russian market? As far as he is promising? D.TS.: Unfortunately, in terms of money is absolutely not interested, because, again, there is a problem of Varese. Yes, not even in this case. This segment, in principle, is far from saturation in Russia. Edinistvennaya niche, which might be of interest to us here - the corporate, but then again it alone we will not go in the corporation. This is in general an expensive lesson. So basically we will focus on U.S. and European markets. HPCru: By the way, tell us about your business projects? At one time, remember, you even took as one of the landmarks - CRM-system? D.TS.: We underpinning and this direction. From rosskiyskih companies have gained, perhaps, the greatest experience in the creation of CRM-solutions for mobile devices. And it's not bragging. We support both vertically and dental, and insurance, and sales. Of the platforms in recent years more use Pocket PC, but there is a system for Palm OS. HPCru: At one time, back in 2003, you had a competition of student works. Actually, about the results we did since then have not. Tell me what any of these works and then was taken as the basis of your projects as you planned, then? D.TS.: Unfortunately, no. Yes, actually, we did not set such goals. Students simply receive credit or test scores. If we take the whole of our relations with Novgorod State University, from which we all came out, this is a separate big topic. We are very sensitive to such things as the interface between science and business. And I must say, we are not alone. I recently read in the IT-press to the effect that IBM even sends its staff back to training at the university and pays for a lot of money. We are also concerned about the quality of training of Russian students and, for its part, tried to somehow participate in this process, increasing the level of future staff. So here we have an opportunity at the department in the disciplines of choice be courses that would be most interesting to us. For example, now I'm in my fourth year of study "Computer Graphics", and the fifth at us - "Programming Mobile uninterruptable" and "Game Programming". This brand new items. It is clear that there can not be taught something global, but at least we are laying the foundations.Laboratory work, for example, is also designed for writing programs in these courses. Read these lectures several employees of our company. I am in management courses and the mathematics involved in programming, developers, and tell us about testing our experts testers. By the way, now we have decided to repeat the contest of student works. Best lab for mobile devices in the fifth year and the best project on schedule by the fourth will be awarded with the latest handheld the platform for which written. HPCru: The most successful students then take the vacant place in your company? D.TS.: Of course, we do for ourselves kuem frames. HPCru: As far as I know, you are this year represented his company at CeBIT'e. What shows? D.TS.: We were on a joint stand Russoft, which we are members. Impressions, of course, the mass, a large pack of cards and a stack of compact sets. However, so far managed to conclude there is only one contract. However, it still does not have gone in vain. And on the other visitors, and be seen. The goal was this - go there and see what the CeBIT, in order to evaluate whether we need it all. Even in such unprepared spontaneous mode was much more interesting, from what I'm doing such a conclusion. Firstly, mobile design interesting people. Secondly, the next CeBIT'u we prepare more thoroughly: to analyze the range of potential customers will take quite conscious steps. HPCru: If you take stock of the company for 5 years, what can be proud of Antares? Are there any special achievements? D.TS.: First, we are five years old. During these five years we have not dispersed. From a small provincial team that did not know how anything from a complete zero, rose to the company, which in general are aware. The best proof of our success - our customers. This is already an achievement. Secondly, we are going to unite under his wing regional firms that are also involved in mobile development and trying to build out of this joint venture real good corporation, that is education on the basis of the holding. In fact, we have initiated a union, because we have the strength and resources to do so. HPCru: Seriously. What kind of support the initiative? D.TS.: Kaliningrad, Yaroslavl, St. Petersburg, Ulyanovsk, Ukraine (Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkov). HPCru: Manage the regional offices of the holding will be implemented from Novgorod, it is of Antares'a? D.TS.: Complicated yet say we are only form the control scheme, but it is clear that the Antares - a core, as the initiator of the association. HPCru: And how much for a rough estimation of staff will work in your holding? D.TS.: At the moment, somewhere around 400-500 people expressed their desire to unite. HPCru: Colidno. And the future of a large holding company which global plans, why do you have in common? On what the market will be focused - on the domestic or foreign? D.TS.: Creating a holding company, we pursue two goals. First, the locked-in all outsourcing of large companies. For example, global corporations, which theoretically could be our customers, not even enter into negotiations with the companies in which less than 100 people. This well-known rule. In addition, the sum of the contract with outsourcers should not exceed 20 per cent of turnover. In general, the holding company will provide large customers for outsourcing. Oh, and, secondly, we want to seriously control the food market. Practice shows that, with our expertise, we can implement this task and that our company - is quite competitive. HPCru: Are there any contacts with the Spb Software House? Whether this will include the largest domestic developer in your holding? D.TS.: No, because we have different business models. In addition, we operate on four platforms, while at the Spb - only one, and their brand is pretty well-advertised. However, we are cooperating and just friends. Perhaps we will have some joint project in a while ... Maybe even this year. HPCru: What about the details:) D.TS.: I have nothing to say on this score, at least, officially and publicly. HPCru: Ok, then let's talk about toys.At one time, you were going to even identify to the department of gaming applications developers? Did this happen? D.TS.: No, we are engaged in games, of course, but so far decided not to provide a referral to a special department. For example, we are currently working with Samsung-Russia, recently released a series of games for mobile phones from this manufacturer. If you now go to the site of the Russian fan club Samsung, you'll see that most of the applications and toys made by us. HPCru: How is the project PocketPref? D.TS.: This is one of the most beloved our projects. Now preparing the second version Pref'a. And I can share with you interesting information on it. The game engine (it was made device-independent) has been ported to Palm OS and Symbian, so users of these platforms will soon have the opportunity to fight in the pocket preference. First of all, prepared version of the game under the Pocket PC, but her tight and releases for Palm and Symbian. Expect a new release PocketPref can about the New Year. Anyway, we hope so. HPCru: Speaking of favorite foods. Do you personally have this? D.TS.: Sure. Probably the most popular product ... This is my daughter Nastya:) but seriously, Antares - it's actually my offspring, so that everything that goes under our brand from our walls, dear to me. I can not identify. HPCru: Finally tell n-ta, on creative plans and ideas. D.TS.: In the near future - to complete construction of the holding cell. Then adjust work with universities to introduce new courses there, that is, to give lectures on issues relevant to our disciplines like management, marketing and programming for mobile devices. HPCru: That is going to hammer shots directly into the regional universities of cities where the participants are holding? D.TS.: Not only. We postaraemya liaise with major institutions and universities, which are known throughout the country. HPCru: In addition to the mainstream mobile development, do you have some other areas of interest? D.TS.: Mobile content, ie, ringtones, logos, images produced by our design studio. HPCru: This is a fairly lucrative business in Russia today. In any case, some big players make millions on ringtones. Do not want to join in and do it more tightly? D.TS.: Certainly, we want to. But another thing is that the mobile content market, we will not aim, because we simply have no capacity to give, say, a million images, melodies, worthy of competing with vorotilam mobile content. However, with some targeted partners, we will gladly cooperate. HPCru: Well, finally, if you still remaining something unspoken, something about what you would like to tell the world in the face of readers HPCru, now have such an opportunity:) D.TS.: Thank you, will not fail to take advantage of it . I want to thank your site for support. Interestingly, in general, began the history of our company. 5 years ago I was with a small group of friends decided to try to write something for PDAs and generally to do business in terms of mobile development. The very first product that we released, became the "Guide to Great Novgorod. This guide, as you probably remember, won the prize in the developers' branch Palmovaya, who led the then HPCru. So we can say that your website - it is at some degree of cross Antares'a, which gave us a start in life, he added self-confidence. If it were not for this product and this victory is unknown as it all came together. Since this all started:) October 14-15, we celebrated its fifth anniversary. Widely celebrated for two days with what myself and congratulations:) HPCru: Thank you, very nice to hear this. Alaverdy answer that in Russia for five years, a company that is one of the leaders in mobile development, and supports four platforms. It's worth a lot. Thank you again for the job and this interview. We look forward to continuing PocketPref and promised new projects. The authors, translation:
HPCru