Vital player in a digital world
Israeli new media companies, bolstered by a digitally-saturated, media-savvy local culture of early adopters, create unique solutions sought-after by media outlets, operators and content providers for their novelty and utility, and for their ability to increase revenues while enabling a rich user experience.
No pixel left behind
Israel has more than 1000 new media companies whose offerings span the range of new media possibilities. They are active in Internet applications and services, e-commerce and marketing, online advertising, entertainment and video, search and social networks. They are also dynamic players in broadcast, digital & cable TV, IPTV and satellite services, strong in content creation, delivery and management, and have a potent presence in gaming and new interface solutions within the CE realm.
The sector has developed rapidly over the last few years. While some companies, such as Adsmarket, Answers.com, ICQ, Incredimail, NDS, Orca, Conduit and Pilat Media are large, most are smaller, with more than 600 classified as start-ups. They are characterized by innovation and entrepreneurship, with low production costs aiding competitiveness, and a willingness to adapt solutions to customer requirements.
Many multinational new media companies maintain R&D facilities in Israel. These include AOL, eBay, Google, Harmonic, Open TV, PayPal, Yahoo and Ybrant. Other technology giants with a strong local presence include Apple, Cisco, Ericsson, HP, Intel, IBM, Microsoft, Motorola and Nokia-Siemens.
It’s a breakthrough country
Many of today’s commonplace digital technologies were developed or pioneered in Israel.
- Intel Centrino and Pentium 4 microprocessors
- NDS conditional access and DRM systems
- USB flash drives invented by M-Systems
- VoIP invented by founders of VocalTec
- AOL Instant Messenger developed by ICQ
- Alvarion pioneered WiFi and WiMax
- Voicemail invented by Comverse
Because of the small local market, many of Israel’s most innovative companies seek strategic partners or outright purchase of their technologies by foreign companies better able to exploit global economies of scale. In recent years, the gifts project was acquired by ebay, Snaptu was acquired by Facebook and Bitband was acquired by Motorola.
