Article Tools

• 

The GSM Association (GSMA) announced the winners of its third annual 2009 Asia Mobile Awards and the Mobile Innovation Grand Prix – Asia Tournament, which were held Nov. 18 in Hong Kong. The awards are meant to recognize leadership and diversity in mobile content and services in Asia, GSMA says.

A panel of industry experts including analysts, journalists, and mobile phone industry experts judged the entrants in categories including Best Mobile Game, Best Mobile Internet Service, and Best Mobile Music Service. GSMA said it received more than 100 entries across all categories, and the winners were short-listed for the Global Mobile Awards, which will take place next year at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

“These awards reflect the strong growth of mobile communications in Asia,” said Rob Conway, CEO and board member at GSMA. “In the last year alone, mobile connections in the region have risen by 370 million, and this growth is driven by innovative new services, applications, and ever-richer mobile content. These awards recognize the leaders, pioneers, and innovators that are making this happen.”

Entrants were required to offer their mobile product or service in Asian markets and use the GSM family of technologies, which include GSM, GPRS, EDGE, and W-CDMA.

The winners announced at the ceremony are:

• Gameloft, for Best Mobile Game (“Hero of Sparta”)
• Singapore Telecom Mobile, for Best Mobile Music Service (“SingTel AMPed”)
• Telegent Systems, for Best Mobile TV or Video Service (Telegent Free-to-Air Mobile TV)
• Smart Communications and Unilever, for Best Mobile Advertising or Marketing (“AXE on Phone”)
• Orascom Telecom Bangladesh, for Best Mobile Enterprise Application Product or Service (“Banglalink Jigyasha”)
• Geodesic, for Best Mobile Internet Service (“Mundi IM”)
• Smart Communications for Best Mobile Money Service (Expanded mobile-based security feature for online purchases)
• Smart Communications for the Unbanked Award (Smart Islands Activation Program)
• Grameenphone and Huawei for the Green Mobile Award (“Building a Greener Mobile Network”)
• Nokia for Best Mobile Broadband Handset or Device (Nokia N97 Mini)

The Mobile Innovation Grand Prix – Asia Tournament, which was also held on Nov. 18, was designed to showcase entrepreneurs from small and medium-sized companies that are bringing new and innovative mobile products to the world market. The overall winners of the competition were two Ireland-based companies, Altobridge, a company that provides wireless service in remote areas, and Sentry Wireless, a mobile security company. The two companies are now qualified for the Mobile Innovation Grand Prix, which is also part of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next year.