The company's Philippine operations will primarily be involved in developing software applications that can run in IPv6-compatible devices, said Alan Lightman, Innofone.com's president and CEO, in a press briefing Monday.
'The investment will be used in office space and possible local acquisitions,' Lightman said.
IPv6 is a new standard that supports the requirement for more IP addresses as more devices such as mobile phones and even home appliances connect to the Internet. The advent of wireless broadband also allows ubiquitous access to Internet.
Innofone.com claims to be one of few companies dedicated to IPv6. It provides IPv6 training and consultancy services and also distributes IPv6 hardware such as routers and security appliances, the latter supported by application development.
The company recently announced its acquisition of InfoWeapons, which makes IPv6 network equipment and operates an R&D unit in Cebu City in the South.
By having software operations in the Philippines, the company is looking to cut down on costs and at the same time establish operations in a geographical region that's leading the adoption of IPv6.
'There is demand for IPv6. Telecom companies are rolling out the infrastructure needed to support it,' Lightman said, noting that South Korea and Japan are leading the adoption of IPv6.
According to him, tier 1 global infrastructure players like TeleGlobe, NTT and Global Crossing now also cater to smaller Internet service providers (ISPs), aside from bigger telecom players.
He added TeleGlobe will announce a partnership with a Philippine-based ISP in the Asia IPv6 Summit to be held in Manila in November.
'There's nothing keeping ISPs from moving to IPv6,' Lightman said.