Budi Putra, Contributor, Jakarta
I've always turned green with envy when I read or heard about the success stories of IT giants that have appeared frequently in the international media so far: None of the guys behind them were Indonesian!
What's wrong? Do we not have the talent or capability in this area? I don't think so. Maybe our IT guys have already accomplished something, but haven't received proper exposure.
Or maybe they created something big, but didn't have enough strategy to promote and market it -- so it remained silent, unknown and finally disappeared.
I often meet talented young programmers when I make a trip to cities across the country. And when I talked with them -- amazing! -- they had brilliant ideas! They had even created a prototype and it operated well, but it's a pity they didn't have the first clue how to capitalize on it.
I suggested that they talk with some investors or possible business partners. But here the problem is -- one of them, at least -- they don't network well.
I tried to cross-check the information: I spoke with the potential investors they mentioned, and I got the impression that most of these investors weren't interested in the software or application due to the weakness of its business model.
""They failed to convince us how to sell and make money from that,"" said a guy in the telecommunications industry. ""Most of them create their software or application by approaching its technology side and ignoring its business side. Of course, it would be absurd for us to step forward with them.""
Yes, to create a start-up company, especially in the IT sector, it's not enough to count on technology geeks, but should incorporate professionals from other fields like business, management and law.
Fine. Start-ups should come up with solid team members instead of forming just a techie group, which has small bargaining power when they deal with the industry.
Fortunately, there is good news, too.
I finally found an IT start-up company that is powered by a strong team and getting ready to offer a smart application. Who is it, and what are they offering?
It's Indline... and Indline.
The start-up sent clear message to the world with its self-titled application: Stop your daily routine of opening, closing and switching from one application to another -- email, browser, instant messaging, agenda, address book, word processing, spreadsheet, video conferencing, multimedia chat rooms, you name it. Just use one application that does it all.
Indline Version 3.0 had its soft launch during the opening of the International Broadcast and Multimedia Expo 2006 (IBEX 2006), the first international broadcast and multimedia exhibition and conference in the country.
Yes, this is a tool that has everything. By using Indline you can create multimedia email in which you can embed your own recordings, whether voice or video.
You can have your own multimedia chat rooms where you can chat by Webcam and microphone, but where you can also share music, prerecorded videos and DVDs with everyone there.
Combining existing technology, Indline is the one and only application with which you can create more than just email or personal messaging, and more than just a video chat room.
For businesspeople, the application can be utilized to organize a meeting or conference with different people in different parts of the world at the same time. They can conduct presentations, share knowledge and information -- all at a very low cost.
This software is a dynamic integrated compilation of data, voice and video applications that rival many of its global competitors such as AOL, MSN, Yahoo and Skype, which develop and distribute similar products. Its latest release is even richer than its closest competitor, Online Video Chat Service, Paltalk!
A ""Made in Indonesia"" original for Indonesians that addresses the limited IP and Internet infrastructure within the country, Indline is still developing but has developed over the year into a world-class application, with the majority of its users located in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Australia.
Founded in 2000, Indline (PT. Indonesia Lintas Net), owned and operated by Indonesians, is a multimedia software application development company established in Jakarta, where it maintains its headquarters.
I recently met Indline president Youk Tanzil at his large and convenient office in South Jakarta's Ragunan area.
Tanzil was formerly a prominent figure in the country's entertainment industry. Following the late 1990s financial crisis, he disappeared for a few years and came back with a different focus, entering the Internet's multimedia arena.
He returned with a strong vision of Internet content and business applications.
""The dotcom has been recovering now but in a different and advanced form, namely content and application. The idea of social networking and Web 2.0 will shape the future of this industry,"" Tanzil said.
I am personally delighted with this development, as this means the Indonesian business community has a figure that speaks and offers world-class software. This company appears to be challenging the international big boys who offer similar products and services.
Since Indline was launched locally last year, Tanzil told the Post that the company is looking forward at a global launch.
""We're ready to compete with the giants,"" he smiled.
""We initially developed this product to specifically address Indonesia's poor communications infrastructure and the very limited dial-up access that the country's users had to the Internet,"" Tanzil said.
""What this meant was that we had to create very light and compressed applications that could enable the delivery of traditionally 'heavy' video and voice programs using a dial-up, narrow bandwidth of less than 28kbps.""
The low cost and its compression technology are key features of Indline, but the real value that addresses the current needs of the multimedia Internet market is its new, enhanced products and services.
You can start using Indline by going to www.indline.com, where you can register and download Indline Application and Indline Mail.
Now I can hope that one day, others will turn green with envy at the international success story of an IT giant that began as an Indonesian start-up company!
The writer is a tech journalist and blogger. He can be reached at his blog, www.budiputra.com.
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