Synchronica plc, which provides next-generation mobile messaging services, has revealed that a 20m-subscriber subsidiary of a Latin American mobile operator has launched the MessagePhone. The handset is bundled with Synchronica Mobile Gateway and a mobile Instant Messaging (IM) service using technology that was acquired by Synchronica from Colibria earlier this year.

The MessagePhone, unveiled in February, is a low-cost messaging-oriented handset optimized for use with Synchronica Mobile Gateway. It provides affordable push email, synchronisation and mobile IM services. MessagePhone also provides the user with a full HTML web browser and access to many popular social networking sites.

The operator, a subsidiary of one of the region’s largest mobile operator groups, launched MessagePhone simultaneously with the Synchronica IM service, which is also available on a wide range of 3rd-party handsets. MessagePhone services are offered at less than $15 (£10) per month to the subscriber. The launch will be supported by a mass-market advertising campaign targeted at consumer and business users.

“With a growing customer base that desires cutting-edge services, Latin America is one of our most exciting markets,” says Synchronica CEO Carsten Brinkschulte. “Many subscribers in the region do not have access to fixed internet services and instead rely on their mobile phones for online communications. The launch of the MessagePhone will cost-effectively satisfy this demand.”