They’re not your usual ‘fresh out of school’ technoprenuers. Nevertheless, the duo of Wemel Cumavoo and Rani Wemel at LTT Global are doing pretty well focussing on education over mobile.

 

If anyone happens to ask Wemel and Rani if hand phones should be allowed back into schools, their answer would be an emphatic yes. These husband and wife team certainly has locus standi to express their opinion. They have built up a strong case for using mobile phones in education through their company LTT Global Communications Sdn. Bhd. Since starting out over three years ago, their company has proved that the mobile phone is a very useful educational tool.

LTT Global Communications are pioneers in the field of mobile learning. The company has mobile courseware that teach English and other subjects at levels that start from beginners all the way to advanced. They’ve also moved on to publishing mobile magazines covering subjects like lifestyle and pets and making available mobile videos on various topics for professionals, personal and family. Wemel takes pain to point out that their material is world class: “We make available material that is used by Fortune 500 companies.”

Rani and Wemel didn’t come through the usual IT channel into the mobile industry. Rani taught law in some private colleges and Wemel was involved in a long running family business that specialised in household utensils.

When they decided to start a new business, they were drawn towards the mobile platform. After a so-so experience with an e-learning venture, they heard of a company called SMSBiz. Intrigued, they went to check it out and ended up joining an MLM programme that was based on marketing mobile prepaid cards. Within a few months they had a staggering 30,000 people under them. “That’s when we realised the power of mobile technology. It was easy to use and everyone owned a mobile”

One thing led to another and they decided to start providing English lessons over mobile. Their product, SMS-ME-ENGLISH worked over SMS and students received text messages that helped them learn the language. Support and additional material was available at their web portal (www.lltcom.com).

Being new to technology, they joined the MDEC Technopreneur Development programme. MDEC in turn introduced them to Maxis Developer Programme (MDP). “We joined MDP with zero knowledge and they have really helped our company become what it is today. Beyond gaining knowledge through seminars and training sessions, MDP gave us credibility, recognition and exposure to market.” They were then able to secure marketing and payment tie-ups with four banks and also with TM Net.

 

 

It has also led them into collaboration projects with various agencies and bodies. Earlier this month, Kementerian Tenaga Air dan Komunikasi (KTAK) held a School ICT Day at SMK Ahmad Badawi, Kepala Batas, Penang. Maxis was asked to manage the ICT Quiz segment. Maxis, being a technology based company decided to integrate the SMS and Internet technology as a mechanism tool for the quiz. It worked with LTT Global to develop the SMS based quiz. 17 schools in Kepala Batas area participated in the quiz and it was well received by all. “The response was fantastic. The students had so much fun and yet they said they learnt a lot,” said Wemel.

They have also received a grant from an organisation to run the ‘Mum – My English Teacher’ programme for single mothers. The project has two aims, to improve the English skills of the participants and also help the mothers coach their children effectively.

In August this year, Rani and Wemel are organising the 1st Asia Pacific Regional Mobile Learning and Edutainment Conference and exhibition. The event has the backing of MSC Malaysia, Suruhankaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia (SKMM) , Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Kementerian Tenaga Air dan Komunikasi (KTAK) and Institute of Professional Development, Open University Malaysia. A host of other organisations including MDP will lend support to the conference.

Rani says that they believe that one of the best ways to learn is through the mobile platform. “With assistance from organisations like MDP, we have been able to translate our vision into concrete programmes.”

By their own example of what they have achieved at LTT Global Communications, the Wemels are undoubtedly quick learners themselves. And now, they are also doing their part by nurturing the next generation of mobile technoprenuers. The Wemels have been chosen to be one of the mobile developer mentors of the ongoing Mobile Content Challenge jointly organised by Maxis, SKMM and KTAK.