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22nd November - World leading mobile operators including
Cingular Wireless, Hutchison Group, O2, Orange, Smart Communications,
Telefónica Móviles, T-Mobile and Vodafone - together serving
almost half a billion mobile customers globally - have joined
forces to support and participate in the GSM Association's
(GSMA's) inaugural Mobile Innovation Forum, taking place on
Monday 13th February 2006 at the 3GSM World Congress (Barcelona,
13-16 February 2006).
The Mobile Innovation Forum is designed to strengthen innovation
in the mobile industry - providing a unique platform for young,
small and start-up companies to pitch innovation ideas to
mobile operators and strategic investors from the venture
capital arena, at the world's leading mobile communications
event.
"Opportunities for smaller and independent organisations
to pitch great ideas and inventions to a gathering of strategic
investors in one place are very rare indeed," said Craig Ehrlich,
Chairman of the GSM Association. "At the 3GSM World Congress
next year, we are providing a platform to pitch to the entire
industry. One successful organisation will gain unprecedented
recognition by winning the Mobile Innovation Award. The potential
for access to funding, and a route to market via the Forum
and Award is unprecedented," he added.
The new Forum is an integral part of the GSM Association
Awards, a global annual industry awards programme that has
recognised and promoted excellence in mobile communications
since 1995. Start-up organisations wishing to present their
ideas at the Forum should apply through entry to the GSMA's
Mobile Innovation Award at www.gsmawards.com Deadline for
entry is Wednesday 30th November 2005.
In early December, a panel of judges comprising the supporting
operator and venture capital representatives will shortlist
15-20 organisations that will be invited to pitch their ideas
at the Mobile Innovation Forum in Barcelona on 13th February.
Mobile Innovation Forum panellists will assess brief 'elevator
pitch' presentations by the short-listed organisations, three
of which will go forward to present to the 3GSM World Congress
conference the next day. The Forum culminates in the selection
of one final winner to be presented with the prestigious Mobile
Innovation Award during the GSMA's Awards night at the National
Palace in Barcelona on Tuesday the 14th February.
The Mobile Innovation Forum & Award is open to companies
of small to medium size who are developing products, services
and solutions for the GSM mobile industry.
"The GSM Association has created the Mobile Innovation Forum
and Award, and brought together some of the world's leading
operators to support and participate because we recognise
that innovation is the lifeblood of the industry's future
- and we can provide no better platform than where the industry
decision makers gather in one place," said Craig Ehrlich.
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