Afrozaar’s Baobab Media Server helping Global Newspapers “Go Mobile”

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1. What is your project? [1 sentence]

We have built an enterprise media server and app platform (Baobab) that can simply and dynamically source, package and publish all types of newspaper content across web, social and all mobile app platforms.

2. How will your project use mobile tools and approaches? [2 sentences]

Baobab Media Server and App Platforms comprises of mobile apps solutions (iPad, iPhone, Android, Windows 8) and also Amazon’s Kindle E Ink services, to distribute and present Baobab content that has been aggregated from publishers CMS. Baobab has open Software Development Kits (SDKs) for third party development teams to consistently build apps that conform to the content and subscriber services provided by the Baobab Media Server.

3. Who will use it and why? [1 sentence]

Major Newspaper / Magazine publishing houses, currently the Telegraph Media Group (UK) is our first customer to run the Baobab Media Server and making use of the mobile App SDKs and also Amazon Kindle Fire Android app.

4. Please list three ways they would learn about your project.

We are scheduled to launch Baobab globally at WAN IFRA World Publishing Expo 2012 in Franfurt, where we hope to get some coverage. There are plans to present at 3 digital media and mobile app conferences by end of 2012 to spread the word about Baobab.

5. What connections have you made, or will you make, with others [communities, organizations or networks] about your project? [2 sentences]

TMG (UK) and iMedia have expressed delight and will endorse and support the industry adoption of Baobab. Media24 (Africa’s largest Media Publishing Company) are current customer where we delivered MySubs.co.za, and they have shown big interest in Baobab and how it can integrate and work with their existing publishing and content systems.

6. What part of the project have you already built? [1-2 sentences, feel free to include links]

• The Baobab Media Server, Baobab App SDKs (iOS, Android, Windows 8, Windows Phone, Web), Baobab iPad, Android and Windows 8 tablet Apps.

7. What does success for your project look like? [1-2 sentences]

• TMG (UK) are contributing massively to the product from an actual leading newspaper publishing perspective and believe that Baobab does so much more for them than other products in the market. We believe that Baobab has huge potential to be adopted by all major global newspaper and eventually magazine publishers. We want to make newspapers fun to read, watch, listen to anywhere and on any device anytime.

8. What resources do you need to succeed? [1-2 sentences]

• Capital Investment: Global sales cycles and product distribution we anticipate to be costly, and also having investment to enrich the platforms functionality to ensure it’s differentiators are attractive to potential customers the world over eg: multi language support

Additional details:
Please list who is on your team:

• ·       Dirk le Roux (Founder: Managing Director and Solution Architect)
• ·       Rich Cheary (Founder: Sales and Marketing Director)
• ·       Marco Theart (Founder: Technical Director)
• ·       Tim Bielawski (Windows Mobile and Tablet App Lead Developer)
• ·       Nicola le Roux (Head of Delivery)
• ·       Willem van der merwe (Head of iOS Development)
• ·       Jon Lai Lam (Java Server Developer)
• ·       Michael Wiles (Java Server Developer)
• ·       Jan Luis Crafford (Android Developer)
• ·       Danny Bravo (iOS Developer)
• ·       Renee Cheary (Head of Mobile Quality Assurance)
• ·       Michael Mee (Head UI/UX Designer)
• ·       Thuso Segopolo (Business and System Analyst)

Expected number of months to complete project:

• Overall Project Duration is on going and will continue to do so.
• Phase 1 will be complete end of 2012
•  Thereafter will work in 6 month Phases

Estimated Project Cost:

• ·       To date project cost has been around ZAR4million (where TMG and Afrozaar.com shared investment costs, due to TMG customization requirements – all IP is owned by Afrozaar.com - 2 year old startup itself)

Name: Richard Cheary (Afrozaar founder and Baobab product owner)

Twitter: @afrozaar

Email address: richard.cheary@afrozaar.com
Organization [if applicable]: Afrozaar
City: Cape Town
Country: South Africa
How did you learn about the contest? News Article