InVent Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of Thailand communication services group, Intouch, has acquired 3,334 newly issued shares of Computerlogy worth about Bt29m ($925,000), equivalent to 25.01% of paid-up capital, and also acquired 42,860 newly issued shares of Meditech Solution worth Bt5m ($160,000), equivalent to 30% of paid-up capital.
Computerlogy has developed SocialEnable, a system that helps organisations efficiently monitor and manage multiple social-media channels such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pantip. Intouch sees the investment as strategic so that it can use the company’s expertise in social media and software development, synergising the various businesses of Intouch.
Meditech Solution is the manufacturer of SenzE, an eye-tracking communication device to assist the handicapped. The device is the first of its kind in Asia and is also the first system in the world that works with Thai software.
This assistant technology allows patients to communicate accurately and conveniently with physicians and family. The device can be connected to a mobile platform, which can be further developed for eye-controlling medical equipment, games and other gadgets in the future.
In other news, Intouch, which is part of the larger Shin Corporation, is gearing up to acquire content providers as it looks to win a licence for a commercial terrestrial digital television channel.
According to news reports by Thailand news portal, The Nation, InTouch has already set up teams for bidding and TV operations, but is still waiting for the board’s approval to submit an application to participate in the auction. The company would capitalise on the strengths of its cellular and satellite flagships, Advanced Info Service and Thaicom, to support the digital TV business.