Company Press Release:

3 Developers from APAC Named Finalists of Forum Nokia Calling All Innovators Global Mobile Application Developer Competition

January 27, 2009

New Delhi – Forum Nokia is proud to announce that three of the eleven finalists of Calling All Innovators, a global mobile application development competition to positively impact the quality of life on the planet, came from APAC. 

Nearly 1,000 developers answered Nokia’s challenge to think big and create mobile applications and services that can help build a better world. Nokia will award up to USD 150,000 in cash and prizes to the ultimate winners, in addition to helping the winning developers distribute their mobile applications worldwide.

The Calling All Innovators website received more than 246,382 unique visitors and more than 12,000 developers from around the world registered with Forum Nokia, the world’s largest mobile developer community, in connection with the contest.

“The global interest in Calling All Innovators exceeded all expectations,” said Miikka Nevasalo, Director of Forum Nokia Asia.  “Developers went above and beyond with a variety of innovations demonstrating real potential to impact the future of our world.”

Applicants rose to the challenge issued by Dean Kamen, technology pioneer and best known for inventing the Segway PT and for founding FIRST, (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an organization which inspires high school students worldwide to study science and technology.

Following are the category finalists from APAC of the Calling All Innovators global contest:

• ECO-Challenge: Applicants were asked to submit an application that will work to minimize mobility’s global environmental impact and develop ways to offer mobile solutions that help consumers make sustainable choices such as reducing their energy consumption or carbon footprint.
  • Green Phone – This S60 application regulates the power needed for the backlight, WLAN, Bluetooth and the charger to maximize battery life efficiency. 
• Emerging Markets: This category opens up new opportunities for developers to imagine the possibilities of pioneering applications and services impacting the daily lives of millions in developing nations, which could include solutions for education, health data access, infotainment, rural agriculture, or any other application that improves lives in emerging markets.
  • Nano Ganesh – This application allows farmers in India to remotely access their irrigation pumps eliminating the need to travel sometimes long distances in inclement weather to check the power and turn on/off the pumps.  With the aid of the modem along with this application on their mobile phone, farmers can check the power to their irrigation systems and manipulate the pumps remotely.
• Technology Showcase: This category highlights compelling applications for individuals or communities that are focused on the end-user experience and are built using Flash Lite, Java, Python, open source or other technologies supported by Series 40 or S60 devices.    
  • Neuscreen – Turning a normal television into a multi-touch screen is no problem with this application.

Winners will be announced on February 17, 2009 at Mobile World Congress 2009 in Barcelona during the Forum Nokia Calling All Innovators Award Ceremony. All the finalists will receive paid travel and accommodations to Mobile World Congress.  First place winners in each category will receive USD 25,000  and distribution of their winning applications for free through a variety of Nokia channels. Second place winners in each category will receive USD 10,000 and third place winners will receive USD 5,000.

More information about Forum Nokia’s Calling All Innovators including video demonstrations of the applications can be found online at www.callingallinnovators.com.

ABOUT FIRST

Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. With the support of many of the world’s most well-known companies, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST Robotics Competition and FIRST Tech Challenge for high-school students, FIRST LEGO League for children 9-14 years old, and Junior FIRST LEGO League for 6 to 9 year-olds. To learn more about FIRST, go to www.usfirst.org.

About Forum Nokia

Nokia's global developer program, Forum Nokia connects developers to tools, technical information, support, and distribution channels they can use to build and market applications around the globe. From offices in the U.S., Europe, India, Japan, China, and Singapore, Forum Nokia provides technical and business development support to developers and operators to assist them in achieving their goal of successfully launching applications and services to consumers and enterprises. More information is available at www.forum.nokia.com.

About Nokia

Nokia is the world leader in mobility, driving the transformation and growth of the converging Internet and communications industries. We make a wide range of mobile devices with services and software that enable people to experience music, navigation, video, television, imaging, games, business mobility and more. Developing and growing our offering of consumer Internet services, as well as our enterprise solutions and software, is a key area of focus. We also provide equipment, solutions and services for communications networks through Nokia Siemens Networks.