FT: Armenian tablet – not as improbable as it soundsJanuary 21, 2014 - 20:06 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - While Armenia is preparing for the will launch of locally made smartphones and tablets, an article in Financial Times speculates whether it’s probable. The new Android-based devices - ArmPhone and ArmTab - were developed by an Armenian-American joint venture, Technology and Science Dynamics Inc/Armtab Technologies Company. The idea may not, in fact, be as improbable as it sounds, FT says. Dubbed the Soviet Silicon Valley, pre-independence Armenia had more scientists and specialists per capita than any other Soviet republic. Nearly 30 per cent of hi-tech computer and electronic equipment used for Soviet defense and space systems were developed and produced in and around the capital, Yerevan, it says. In 2012 there were about 360 IT companies in Armenia, with average annual growth of 23 per cent, according to the Enterprise Incubator Foundation, the country’s leading IT consulting firm. Revenues accounted for 3.3 per cent of national GDP, with the industry contributing 8 per cent of total exports. About one in 10 of the companies has a turnover of $1m and over. The number of small outfits with less than $100,000 in revenues increased significantly during the last five years and, although they don’t have a visible impact on the industry’s aggregate numbers, their rise is a signal of the dynamism in the market. Web entrepreneurs cram small offices around Yerevan, looking for the next PicsArt, the world’s leading mobile photo editor app for android and iOS which has more than 90m users and is a fully made-in-Armenia app, FT says. Although Armenia’s figures are tiny compared with the likes of India, they are significant enough to grab the attention of international corporations. In 2011, Microsoft established an Innovation Center in the capital and the same year Armenia and India set up a joint Center for Excellence in Information Communication Technologies at Yerevan State University, it adds. “The industry is thriving,” says Bagrat Yengibaryan, EIF’s director. “Of eight start-ups in 2012, six were local businesses and we registered a 10 per cent growth in start-ups last year. For 2013, we are talking about $300m in revenues. Most companies focus on software development. Major firms like Pixar are starting to use Armenian products. Partnerships with heavyweights like Microsoft and Singapore Tech Kinetics are still essential but a new wave of specialized professionals are exploring new fields.” Related links: Top stories Yerevan will host the 2024 edition of the World Congress On Information Technology (WCIT). Rustam Badasyan said due to the lack of such regulation, the state budget is deprived of VAT revenues. Krisp’s smart noise suppression tech silences ambient sounds and isolates your voice for calls. Gurgen Khachatryan claimed that the "illegalities have been taking place in 2020." Partner news Most popular in the section | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. |