UPDATE 1-Synchronica Q1 revenue exceeds H1 last year
* Synchronica posts FY pretax loss of 6.5 mln pounds
* Strong start to 2009, two new orders worth total $645,000
* Shares jump as much as 14.3 pct
(Adds details, share price, background)
LONDON, April 20 (Reuters) - Software company Synchronica Plc (DAU.L) said on Monday revenue in the first quarter of the year was greater than in the entire first half of 2008, helping offset news of a wider 2008 loss and lift its shares.
The company, whose technology is used to deliver emails to people's mobile phones, said its pretax loss ballooned to 6.5 million pounds ($9.7 million) in 2008, from 3.1 million in 2007.
The loss equates to a little under half its entire market value and is almost twice its cash reserves at end-2008.
Having raised almost 300,000 pounds from investors earlier in the year, the company said it expected to continue as a going concern. But, echoing a warning sounded a year ago, it warned there was a "significant doubt" hanging over its future.
However, shares in Synchronica rose as much as 14 percent after what the company described as a strong start to 2009.
"We have had a strong start to 2009 with revenues for the first quarter exceeding the level of revenues generated in the entire first half of last year," Chief Executive Carsten Brinkschulte said in a statement.
By 0833 GMT, the stock, which has lost about half its value since early 2008, was 3.6 percent higher at 3.62 pence, having earlier risen as high as 4 pence.
The company, whose revenues last year were 3.7 million pounds ($5.49 million), said in a separate statement it had received orders worth $645,000 from an unnamed Russian mobile phone operator.
Synchronica said in February it had secured a deal with Nokia Siemens Networks, the world's second-largest network equipment provider, to supply operators worldwide with its Mobile Gateway software, which enables mobile email to be accessed on all mobile phones. (Reporting by Kylie MacLellan; Editing by Andrew Macdonald) ($1=.6738 Pound)
