6th Line has significant experience in the creation of hosted mobile solutions, including interfacing to cellular networks, database design, service hosting, billing and reconciliation, high-volume transaction processing, and user interface design and implementation.

Technology on its own is merely a tool, and for that reason 6th Line takes a macro system view, using technology merely as the means and not the end of fulfilling the needs of real users. The team conducts in-depth consultation sessions with potential clients to develop product and functional specifications which make best use of available technologies.

Our skill base includes:

• Interface systems and gateways, built in Java and Erlang
• User interfaces, built in PHP or ASP.NET, for platforms including:
  • SMS
  • MMS
  • USSD
  • WAP
  • Web
• Billing and reconciliation systems for mobile services
• Content management systems
• Instant and integrated messaging
• User-generated content
• Extensible, rich, convergent portals
• Building communities around mobile services
• Server hosting and configuration
• Load optimisation

Consulting

Our technical specialists are available in the capacity of consultants for clients who require additional technical assistance for short periods of time. We can provide the following:

• Complete feasibility studies
  
  A consultant will review the available technical solutions and advise on the benefits and drawbacks of each option.


• Project pre-planning
  
  Our consultant will analyse the project requirements and provide a functional specification and a technical specification which the client can use to launch the project at a later date using a vendor of their choice.


• Return on Investment calculations
  
  A review of the existing platforms or systems will allow our consultant to calculate the return on investment.

Project Management

Given the short project lifecycles in the projects 6th Line specialize in, we have applied an abbreviated PMBOK© project methodology.

Projects are initiated after the scope has been discussed and fully documented in a Functional Specification. Once the specification has been accepted by the client, a Technical Specification will be written by a senior member of the team.

Development and testing take place concurrently in the development process with a number of peer reviews to ensure that the highest quality product is produced.

Once development has been completed, an internal testing phase is initiated where the deliverables are tested against the original specifications.

Following the testing phase the client is taken through the product in an assisted demonstration where all the requirements are matched to the original specification. Once the client is fully satisfied that the product has been developed to their satisfaction, an acceptance certificate is issued.

During the project initiation phase, the client is issued with a username and password to the 6th Line issue tracking system. The online support system allows the client to log any issues with the product both during and after development.

Should the client not wish to invest in the project immediately, the requirements can be specified and fully documented, including the project plan and cost estimates as part of the consulting services 6th Line offer. The inherent benefit of this approach is that a feasibility study can be completed prior to kick-off a project and should the project kick-off at a later date, the project initiation phase is significantly reduced allowing for a shorter time-to-market.