STIMULATING AND SUPPORTING NEW BUSINESS IN IRELAND

Maithu software is a winner for Samsung

By Joan Fahey, July 21, 2009

Maithú, the North West-based IT Consultancy company, specialising in web and mobile products, were delighted to play a part in the recent awarding of the Business of the Year 2009 award to Samsung Ireland at the Barr 50 celebration event in Dublin. Maithú were contracted by Samsung Ireland to supply an Irish translation application for their mobile handsets. The awards celebration, which took place in the Four Seasons Hotel, recognised fifty companies and individuals who have pioneered the use of the Irish language in business. Maithú were also delighted that they themselves also received a Barr 50 nomination this year.

Following the success of their Tocco phone which was the first to have predictive text 'as Gaeilge', Samsung included the Gaelfón Dictionary application on their new pocket phones in February 2009. The Gaelfón application is based on Maithu's 'Get The Focal', a 12,000 word Irish language translator which can be installed on most phones by texting the word 'focal' to 53503.

Micheal Thornhill of Maithú participated in the CEIM programme during which the software was developed. CEIM is offered by the Institute of Technology Sligo and Letterkenny Institute of Technology, in collaboration with, Enterprise Ireland and Udaras na Gaeltachta and is managed by WESTBIC. The programme is targeted at people with innovative business ideas (which have high commercial and export potential) who live or wish to relocate to the North West region. CEIM considers applications from third level graduates, people who have been made redundant and individuals seeking a career change.

For further information contact Eunan Cunningham, WESTBIC ecunningham@westbic.ie

Pictured at the Barr 50 2009 awards are: Eunan Cunningham (WESTBIC), Nigel Grothier (Samsung) and Kerrill Thornhill (Maithú). Maithú developed Irish translation software for Samsung who won the prize for Business of the Year 2009 while Maithú received a Barr 50 nomination. Maithú participated in the CEIM programme during which the software was developed. CEIM is offered by the Institute of Technology Sligo and Letterkenny Institute of Technology, in collaboration with, Enterprise Ireland and Udaras na Gaeltachta and is managed by WESTBIC.