The GSM Association (GSMA) this month launched its Mobile Innovation Programme, which helps small- and mid-sized companies developing next-generation mobile technologies get their products in front of major operators.
As a first step toward the initiative, the association has invited companies with less than $20 million in annual revenue to submit a mobile technology or product for consideration for this year’s Mobile Innovation Awards ceremony, taking place at the new Mobile Innovation Summit at the Mobile Asia Congress in Macau this November.
Prior to the show, a panel comprised of mobile operator company executives and venture capitalists will review the submissions and identify 50 of what they consider to be the top small companies targeting the mobile sector. From that group, four companies will be chosen as the winners in the following areas: Most Innovative Consumer Application or Service; Most Innovative Wireless Device-Centric Technology; Most Innovative Carrier Infrastructure or Platform; and Most Innovative Mobile Application in a Vertical Market.
The review and judging process will be repeated for another Innovation Summit to be held at the Mobile World Congress at Barcelona in February 2008 and again for standalone summits to be held in other regions of the world later next year.
In the meantime, companies can also get their names and technologies out by applying for membership in the Mobile Innovation Programme. Basic membership costs $675 a year and includes one free entry to the Innovation Awards, as well access to discussion forums and networking tools that are part of a Web portal the GSMA is developing.
The deadline for submissions for the Macau Mobile Innovation Awards is Sept. 14.
For more information, visit www.mobileinnovation.org.
