ZIM started operations as a developer and provider of database software known
as ZIM IDE software. ZIM IDE software is used by companies in the design, development,
and management of information databases and mission critical applications. The
Company continues to provide this software and ongoing maintenance services to
its client base.
Beginning in 2002, the Company expanded its business strategy to include opportunities
associated with mobile products. Prior to fiscal 2007, the Company focused on
developing products and services for the wireless data network infrastructure
known as “SMS” or “text messaging”. Although SMS will
continue to provide a minimal amount of revenue within the mobile segment of
operations, with the acquisition of AIS in 2006 the Company shifted its corporate
focus to include offering mobile content directly to end users.
Historically, we were a developer and provider of the ZIM IDE software, which
is used by companies in the design, development, and management of information
databases. We now license the ZIM IDE software products to customers through
direct and partner sales.
The ZIM IDE software provides an integrated development environment (IDE) for
Microsoft Windows, UNIX and Linux computer operating systems. An integrated
development environment is a set of programs that run from a single user interface
for use in the creation of applications and management of databases. The ZIM
IDE software was designed to handle complex data management in a more efficient
manner than the database technologies historically provided by other vendors.
The distinctive characteristic of the ZIM IDE software is its object dictionary
which contains more than just a table of data. Instead, all relationships and
data information are concurrently stored in the object dictionary, making it
easier to manage and retrieve information. Furthermore, ZIM IDE software uses
data sets rather than record-by-record access to manage information. This technique
further simplifies the management of data.
The ZIM IDE software has been used to develop database applications that have
been deployed in a wide range of industries, including finance, insurance, marketing,
human resources, information and records management. Applications built with
the ZIM IDE software also fully accesses most other major databases such as
Oracle™ and SQL™ Server.
In 2011, ZIM acquired the technology assets of Torch Technologies and began
offering an advanced portfolio of migration services and management products
that strengthen and complement ZIM’s enterprise database products. The
combined product portfolio is a robust solution to rapidly and cost effectively
migrate existing databases to other industry databases including Oracle™
and SQL™ while retaining valuable ZIM applications and providing a simplified
database management suite.
Our business strategy previously involved designing mobile data software products
to take advantage of the existing wireless data network infrastructure known
as Short Message Service. SMS, mobile messaging, or text messaging, as it is
also known, enables users to communicate person to person and application to
person through cellular handsets and other SMS-enabled devices. The expertise
we gained in the SMS infrastructure and network allowed us to expand into the
aggregation of SMS messages in 2004. Aggregators transmit a broad variety of
messaging, content, and applications worldwide. ZIM continues to provide a high-volume
delivery infrastructure that is scalable with detailed reporting available to
our mobile content customers.
During the year ended March 31, 2006, it became apparent that the SMS aggregation
market was becoming consolidated, which made it increasingly difficult for us
to compete. We noticed a downward trend in sales of aggregation services by
the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2006 and decided to expand our product
and service offerings. On April 1, 2006, we acquired all of the outstanding
capital stock of Advanced Internet, Inc. (“AIS”), from Advanced
Telecom Services, Inc. (“ATS”).