Tokyo-based Web security firm Trend Micro, Inc. has opened an office in Taipei on Monday with two local startups as part of its efforts to expand into the mobile app market.
The office, run in partnership with mobile services provider General Mobile Corp. (GMobi) and virtual technology company developer VMFive, is focused on developing new mobile applications and business models for the global market, Trend Micro said in a statement to the press on Tuesday.
According to Trend Micro, the three companies will consolidate their funds, human resources and products in order to expand their foothold in markets in Taiwan, Japan, Russia, and in emerging countries in Southeast Asia starting in the second quarter this year.
In Sept. 2014, Trend Micro has assembled a mobile team of around 10 people and has since published two apps that improve mobile security and boost mobile gaming performance, Ted Huang, global mobile business managing director of Trend Micro, said in a news briefing.
These apps have reached more than 10 million downloads worldwide, and the company plans to launch a new app for mobile system optimization in the third quarter, he said.
Wang added that Trend Micro will take advantage of GMobi's mobile customer base and VMFive's cloud-based streaming technology on advertising and mobile games to develop apps based on consumer demands in both developed and emerging markets.
Founded in 2011, GMobi offers Internet-based features for mobile devices and has more than 100 customers worldwide, with about 100 million devices using their services.
VMFive is best known for its product AdPlay, which lets users demo an app via streaming before downloading it through their phones.