Local developers of wireless technologies will receive a major boost with the launch of a new competition to identify and promote the best wireless LAN hardware and software and mobile wireless applications developed and manufactured in Singapore...
Singapore, 16 July 2002 | For Immediate Release
A Newly-Announced Competition Aims to Encourage the Local Development and Production of Wireless LAN and Mobile Wireless Products for Business and Individual Users.
Local developers of wireless technologies will receive a major boost with the launch of a new competition to identify and promote the best wireless LAN hardware and software and mobile wireless applications developed and manufactured in Singapore.
The "Wireless Challenge" competition is open to all Singapore-based hardware and software developers as well as institutions of higher learning. The primary objective is to stimulate local creativity and innovation in order to promote the rapid and pervasive adoption of wireless technologies in the region.
Major suppliers of communications equipment, operators and services providers, who are also members of the SITF (Singapore Information Technology Federation) Wireless Chapter, have agreed to help the winners of the competition in the strategic areas of product development, marketing and sales, including access to their sales channels and introductions to key service providers and potential licensees throughout Asia-Pacific region. For example, wireless developers can leverage on the extensive regional sales network of the mobilizer Regional Wireless Center of Siemens, and as well as its mobile business investment arm, Siemens Mobile Acceleration Company (http://www.siemens.com/). In addition, finalists will be provided with enhanced access to venture capital through the activities of the SITF Wireless Chapter, such as the Wireless Investment Seminar.
The competition is organized and sponsored by the SITF Wireless Chapter, Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard Mobile e-Services Bazaar and Siemens, and supported by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and National Library Board.
"The potential for wireless has yet to be fully exploited," said Philip Heah, Director of Innovation & Wireless at the IDA. "The key idea behind the Challenge is to encourage the development of innovative and appealing solutions by taking advantage of what wireless technologies can offer. This is in line with our efforts to make Singapore a test-bed for innovative wireless solutions and will in turn enable Singapore-based companies to use Singapore as a launch-pad into local and global markets."
According to Yip Hon Mun, Chairman of the SITF Wireless Chapter, " We have established a community of global equipment manufacturers, regional service providers and local academic and government institutions who collaborate with the aim and vision of expanding the wireless market. Through this competition and other activities of the Wireless Chapter we hope to create increased awareness and rapid and pervasive adoption of wireless applications locally and throughout the region. This in turn will drive the development of new wireless applications and spur the growth of the industry."
"Cisco is strongly committed to the growth of the wireless industry. Mobility and ease of installation have meant that wireless LAN technology is becoming more pervasive in offices as well as homes and public 'hot spots'. We conceptualized the Wireless Challenge to increase the awareness of wireless technologies even further and together with the IDA, HP, NLB and the SITF, hope to create further impetus to the development of the industry," said Ms Chong Yoke Sim, Marketing Director, ASEAN of Cisco Systems.
There will be a HP Special Award on Best Regional Appeal. HP will promote the winning mobile solution to top mobile network operators in the region, provide joint branding and marketing opportunities for the winning company, and create opportunities to publicize their solutions as case studies.
Siemens offers a comprehensive standardized Location-based Services (LBS) test bed facility for Singapore wireless application developers. It includes development support towards a powerful LIF (Location Interoperability Forum) compliant API, which will be used globally by leading operators to deploy location services. The Siemens location test facility (hosted in Science Park II) allows all potential participants of the Wireless Challenge to develop, integrate and test their applications over a leading standardized location technology architecture. Wireless application developers will be able to test and refine their applications to deliver high quality value-added mobile location services to the thriving wireless data market in Singapore.
There will be a special Siemens award for the best location-based application submitted to encourage further development in this promising mobile value-added services area.
The technologies used by the participants are expected to include wireless LAN (WiFi / 802.11) and mobile wireless such as GSM (Global Systems for Mobile Communications, GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) and SMS (Short Messaging System).
The criteria used for selection will be:
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original concept and creativity
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market potential, financial viability and competitive advantage
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technical feasibility
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ease of implementation
There are two categories for entrants - academic and open - and the closing date for the receipt of proposals is 31 August 2002. The short-listed competitors will be given four months to turn their proposals into working product prototypes. The winners will be announced in February 2003. For more information, please log on to www.wirelesschallenge.net.
ISSUED BY CORPORATE COMMUNICATION DIVISION
INFOCOMM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE
About Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Cisco news and information are available at www.cisco.com. Asia Pacific news and information are available at www.cisco.com/asiapac/news.
About HP Mobile e-Services Bazaar
HP Bazaars are located in technology epicenters around the globe, including Helsinki, Finland; Tokyo, Japan; and Singapore, with satellite offices in Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Bangkok, Thailand; Beijing, China; Milan, Italy; London, UK and Toronto, Canada.
About Siemens Information and Communication Mobile
The Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group (IC Mobile) offers the complete range of mobile solutions including mobile devices, infrastructure and applications. Devices include mobile phones, wireless modules, mobile organizers and cordless phones as well as products for wireless home networks. The infrastructure portfolio includes GSM, GPRS and 3G mobile network technologies from base stations and switching systems to intelligent networks, e.g. for prepaid services. Mobile Applications cover end-to-end solutions for Messaging, Location Based Services or Mobile Payment. For the fiscal year 2001 (September 30), IC Mobile recorded sales of EUR 11.3 billion and employed 30,730 people worldwide. You can access further information about Siemens IC Mobile on the Internet at http://www.siemens-mobile.com
About Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) is a dynamic organisation with an integrated perspective to developing, promoting and regulating info-communications in Singapore. In the fast-changing and converging spheres of telecommunications, information and media technologies, IDA will be the catalyst for change and growth in Singapore's evolution into a vibrant global info-communications technology centre. For more information, please visit https://www.imda.gov.sg/.
For media clarification, please contact:
Foo Chin Chin
Barr & Chan Communications Pte Ltd
Tel: (65) 6353 0677
Email : chinbc@singnet.com.sg
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