Interview with Mr. Vipul Bhatt, CEO, MyCaption.com

The BlackBerry industry is constantly growing and what better way to keep up with the trend than speaking to various CEOs of BlackBerry software company to get some of their perspectives on the industry. For our first interview, we had the pleasure to interview Vipul Bhatt, the CEO and founder of MyCaption.com. MyCaption is a leading provider of voice-to-data applications and the first company to market a compact, voice-to-data application that seamlessly blend into all BlackBerry productivity functions. Its flagship product, MyCaption, enables the business user to voice-write email, memos, tasks, and calendar entries.

1. Tell us a little about yourself

I live near and work in the beautiful town of Sunnyvale, California, an area better known as Silicon Valley. I am an electrical engineer by training, and an entrepreneur at heart. In 2007, my friends and I co-founded MyCaption.com around the idea that smartphones will keep getting smarter, our fingers aren’t going to get smaller, and that indeed, voice should become the new keyboard. I work as the CEO, which means I get to ride on the giant shoulders of MyCaption folks doing the real work.

2. What BlackBerry do you use now and what PDAs have you used in the past?

I know, I need to go buy a Bold or a Storm, but I just am so comfortable with my 8800… I switched from a Windows Mobile smartphone long time ago, and haven’t regretted it ever since.

3. Why is the BlackBerry a good platform to develop on?

Commercially, the decision was simple to make. Our focus is on mobile business users, a segment where
the BlackBerry smartphone dominates. Technically, the OS has the sophistication and development tools
to support a very capable application.

4. Other than your own, name your three favorite applications for the BlackBerry.

Google Maps, MemoPad, TinyTwitter.

5. What’s your favorite trick or feature that you use on your BlackBerry?

The convenience key (Settings / Options). Isn’t productivity just another name for laziness?:)

6. What’s the most important feature that the BlackBerry lacks?

Heh, easier said than done, but… I would love to see an easy, intuitive way to navigate the smartphone
with voice. As the BlackBerry smartphone evolves beyond email, it will fill up with documents and third
party applications. Even when you know exactly where you want to go, it shouldn’t take too many clicks
and scrolls.

7. Where do you see the focus of third party programs for the BlackBerry going over the next few months?

I think we will see new products that combine the power of location awareness, information search, and
social networking.

MyCaption website: http://www.mycaption.com