Ice 365 to invest $10 mn in Mohali headquarters

UK mobile interactive community service provider Ice 365 will invest more than $10 million over the next three years in setting up its India headquarters at Mohali.

The company is targeting a $100 million turnover by 2009, with more than 50 per cent revenue coming from India.

Speaking to Business Standard, Ice 365 President Paul Shoker said the company's facility in Mohali would have a research and development centre, a help desk and a co-ordination team.

"We will come in the Quark City and from the current 3,500 square feet facility, will be expanding to 10,000 square feet," he said .He said the investment would increase with the passage of time and would be used largely for acquisition and providing best facilities.

Giving further details, Shoker said, "From the current team of 40 employees, we will touch 100 employees by August 2006. The BPO will be a 100-seater plus unit and will cater for both world-wide and domestic players."

Describing mobile gaming ,classifieds, music and dating application as rising sectors in India's fast-growing wireless business, Shocker said the company was going to provide a gamut of services to the service providers.

The company had recently tied up with Aortal for providing gaming service. He said the company was awarded with six new projects for India ranging from multimedia , mobile application and value-added services.

For the 41-year-old entrepreneur, who was born in Jalandhar and lived in the UK, it is the Punjabi community which has brought him back to India. "We have built a community portal for Indians which is going to be launched in the market very soon. The portal will have information on cooking, music, community service, etc," informed Shoker.

Major clients of Ice 365 (which stands for Interactive Community Engagement 365 days a year), include British Telecom, ITV media channel of the UK, the Loot newspaper and the Meaningful Marketing Group.