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 (www.smac.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:
· original concept and creativity
· market potential, financial viability and competitive advantage
· technical feasibility
· 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.
