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AlterGeo

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AlterGeo
Company typePrivate
IndustryInternet; IT; Software; Location-based services; Location-based advertising; Geolocation; Hybrid positioning system
FoundedMoscow, Russia
(May 2008 (2008-05))
FounderAnton Baranchuk
Alexandre Dorjiev
Denis Alaev
Sergey Kurlovich
Headquarters
Moscow
,
Russia
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Anton Baranchuk, Co-founder & CEO
Alexandre Dorjiev, Co-founder & CTO
Number of employees
~20
Websiteplatform.altergeo.ru

AlterGeo, formerly known as Wi2Geo, is a Russian IT company specializing in the development of a global hybrid positioning system which combines Wi-Fi, WiMAX, GSM, GPS, LTE, IP address and network environment approaches. It also created cross-platform location-based services, Gvidi and AlterGeo, and hyperlocal banner ad system Local Hero.[1][2]

According to the Financial Times, AlterGeo is one of four "Russia's next tech titans".[3](registration required) The company was named winner and finalist of multiple domestic and international awards in the field of technology and media, and currently is a Skolkovo Innovation Center resident.[4] It received funding from several prominent investors, including Intel Capital and Esther Dyson.[5][6]

Technology

AlterGeo was established in 2008 to build a Wi-Fi positioning technology on the basis of one of its founders' PhD thesis.[7][8]

As long as the company's goal was to develop a universal solution which could overcome the limitations of satellite systems such as GPS, A-GPS and GLONASS, the team expanded R&D activities, and managed to develop a "global hybrid system for the positioning of electronic devices by WiFi, WiMAX, GSM, LTE, IP addresses and network environment".[2][9]

AlterGeo claim their system has significant coverage in Europe, especially in Russia and the CIS, Asia, as well as in North and South America,[2] and claim to operate a database of more than 135 million Wi-Fi, WiMAX, GSM and LTE active access points while processing more than 400 million location requests and positioning more than 100 million devices all over the world on a daily basis. Accuracy: 20–30 metres for the hybrid system; 500–1,000 metres for IP-based positioning.[10]

B2B function and partnerships

AlterGeo's hybrid positioning system allows web and mobile software developers as well as device manufacturers to position their users in order to provide them with location-aware features and collect relevant location-based statistics for marketing issues. The company also developed specific solutions for precise location-based advertising (targeting, retargeting, RTB, etc.) and indoor positioning.[11][12]

AlterGeo system can be accessed through API and SDK or deployed on the client side as an on-premises solution.[11] It is used by Badoo, Mail.Ru, 2GIS, LiveJournal and other prominent Internet companies.[13] In 2011, one of Russia's largest advertising networks, Begun was first in Russia to launch the location-based contextual advertising service, thanks to cooperation with AlterGeo.[14]

Local Hero, hyperlocal ad service

In December 2014, AlterGeo released Local Hero, a self-service hyperlocal banner advertising system for local businesses. It claims to be able to publish customers' banners throughout the Internet (via several RTB ad exchanges) and display them on desktop and mobile devices within small geographic areas (the minimum radius is 500 meters).[15]

B2C location-based services

To demonstrate an example of how the alternative positioning system can be implemented in the field of web and mobile services for wide audiences, the company started developing its own B2C location-based services.[16]

AlterGeo, geosocial network

Launched in 2008, the location-based service of AlterGeo began as a relatively simple friend-to-friend location-sharing service.[17] Nowadays, it also allows people to find new interesting places around them, give and receive useful advice, and get various special offers (i.e. discount coupons) in restaurants, shops and other places.[18] AlterGeo is currently reported to be the leading cross-platform location-based social network in Russia and the CIS (i.e. in the whole Russian-speaking world),[19][20][21] with more than 1.2 million people using its website and free mobile apps for iOS, Android, Windows Phone (additionally supplied with the augmented reality feature) and Bada.[9][22]

Gvidi, recommendation system

According to TechCrunch, in 2012 the company realised "they were sitting on a lot of interesting data which could be applied to restaurants, so they released what they say is an "intelligent restaurant guide", Gvidi",[19] a free mobile app for iOS and Android based on a sophisticated recommendation system.[23]

Gvidi (from Template:Lang-eo, meaning "to guide", "to head", "to lead", "to direct", "to conduct") combines a directory of restaurants, cafes, etc. with the use of social media to try to determine which will be more suitable.[24] The system monitors the user's social graphs through Facebook, Twitter, AlterGeo, Vkontakte, Foursquare etc., as well as their current location to make recommendations. In addition, restaurants, cafes and bars can be filtered across multiple criteria: Wi-Fi, 24/7, playground, non-smoking, and more, as well as table booking[25] and special offers are also available.[26][27][28]

International recognition and awards

AlterGeo is a winner of TechCrunch's The Europas 2013[29] and received the Best Russian Startup nomination.[30] The company also won Bully Awards 2012,[31][32] and was named finalist of the Red Herring Top 100 Global and Red Herring Top 100 Europe lists.[16]

In 2013, Financial Times listed AlterGeo among four "Russia's next tech titans", together with Yandex, Ozon and Ecwid,[3] whereas Informilo included it in its "Russia's Top 25 Hottest Tech Companies" list one year earlier.[33]

In addition, the company of AlterGeo was recognized for the creation of an intelligent mobile restaurant search engine, Gvidi. For example, it won Bully Awards 2013 as a breakthrough technology-based product[34] and the 2nd Apps4All contest as the Best App Using Google Services,[35][36] and was named the Best Idea project at the international Tactrick Android Developer Cup.[37][38]

Both brands of AlterGeo and Gvidi were given the highest possible index of AAA in the Russian Startup Rating, and top its IT section.[39][failed verification]

See also

References

  1. ^ CrunchBase: Company - AlterGeo
  2. ^ a b c AlterGeo: About us
  3. ^ a b Financial Times (FT.com): Russia's next tech titans (September 19, 2013)
  4. ^ Skolkovo Innovation Center: AlterGeo (Wi2Geo LLC)
  5. ^ TechCrunch: AlterGeo, the Foursquare-of-Russia, raises $10m from Intel Capital and others (June 9, 2011
  6. ^ Ведомости: Altergeo оценили (June 9, 2011)
  7. ^ Forbes: "Глупо бояться конкуренции" - Сооснователь геолокационного сервиса AlterGeo Александр Доржиев про 10%-ную скидку за 10 рублей, $10 млн и другие способы монетизации (March 7, 2012)
  8. ^ Системный администратор: Точная геонавигация в городе с помощью технологии Wi2Geo (September 2008)
  9. ^ a b Mobile Developer Day (MDDay.ru): Gvidi по ресторанам – новый проект от AlterGeo вышел для Android (July 23, 2013)
  10. ^ AlterGeo: Main page
  11. ^ a b AlterGeo: Products
  12. ^ РБК daily: Как российский стартап конкурирует в США (November 19, 2013)
  13. ^ AlterGeo: Partners
  14. ^ Cossa.ru: "Бегун" вместе с AlterGeo запускают геоконтекстную рекламу (October 31, 2011)
  15. ^ "Local heroes wanted: firm puts small businesses in the spotlight". RBTH. 8 January 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  16. ^ a b Expert Online: Уверенным шагом к победе. Российский стартап AlterGeo уверенно стремится в лидеры (November 14, 2012)
  17. ^ Руформатор: История сервиса «АльтерГео»: Android, iPhone и все-все-все
  18. ^ CrunchBase: Product - AlterGeo (social network)
  19. ^ a b TechCrunch: The Russians Are Coming, Bearing An Algorithm-Based Restaurant App Called Gvidi (July 11, 2013)
  20. ^ Вести.Ru: Вести.net (April 29, 2012)
  21. ^ Russia Beyond The Headlines: Restaurant Tips App Takes on Foursquare and Yelp!
  22. ^ Windows Phone - Обзоры (W7phone.ru): Геосоциальная сеть AlterGeo выпустила приложение для Windows Phone (September 26, 2012)
  23. ^ FeedMyApp: Gvidi. There's a new restaurant guide in town...and it's name is Gvidi
  24. ^ Android Apps on Google Play: Gvidi - your personal guide
  25. ^ CNews: iOS-сервис Gvidi запустил онлайн-бронирование столиков в заведениях (April 3, 2013)
  26. ^ SocialTimes: Social Media Sharing Powers Personalized Dining Recommendations On Gvidi (August 9, 2013)
  27. ^ Apppicker: Gvidi app review: an all-in-one food and beverage guide (September 28, 2013)
  28. ^ iPhones.ru: App Store | Gvidi. Привет, Foursquare (December 30, 2012)
  29. ^ Wikinews: ZeptoLab и AlterGeo выиграли The Europas: в Берлине объявили лучшие IT-компании 2012 года (January 25, 2013)
  30. ^ The Europas: The Shortlists
  31. ^ White Bull Summits: Meet Our 2012 Bully Award Winners!
  32. ^ PHP.RU: Российская компания AlterGeo выиграла Bully Award 2012 (November 6, 2012)
  33. ^ Informilo: Top 25 Hottest Russian Start-ups (May 29, 2012)
  34. ^ Sk.ru: Проект Gvidi сколковского резидента Вай2Гео стал победителем Bully Awards (October 11, 2013)
  35. ^ Apps4All: Победители II Конкурса Apps4All
  36. ^ Facebook — AlterGeo: post as of April 5, 2013
  37. ^ East-West Digital News: Restaurant social app Gvidi wins Best Idea award in Tactrick Android Developer Cup (May 17, 2013)
  38. ^ Digit: Российская разработка победила в конкурсе приложений для Android (May 14, 2013)
  39. ^ Russian Startup Rating: Results
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