Vancouver, BC, November 15, 2004 – The Wireless Innovation Network of BC (WINBC) announces today that it has partnered with mobile service delivery platform partner, Contec Innovations, to present the chance for even the most basic web programmer to create and develop mobile applications for the Wireless Innovation Contest 2005 (WIC 05, www.winbc.org/contest). Contec’s ‘Hornet Accelerator’ provides access to Contec’s developer site (http://developers.contec.ca), which contains all the information and tools required by a developer to rapidly build server-side applications for the wireless environment.
The contest is open to Canadian and American wireless developers and solution providers that have deployed, or are creating, a wireless solution at one of two levels: “Wireless Excellence†or “Leapfrog – Most Promisingâ€. Contestants can enter their wireless solution in one of four Wireless Excellence categories: entertainment, public sector, community or enterprise, or in one of two Leapfrog categories: pre-commercial or student.
“We realize there are lots of developers out there with ideas and the ability to build those into applications for the Internet. By introducing ‘Hornet Accelerator’ to WIC 05 we are extending the codes and tools that developers will need to ‘mobilize’ those ideas and applications,†says Perry Quan, President and CEO of Contec Innovations. “We are very pleased to be partnering with WINBC on WIC 05 and hope that our participation will help achieve the overall goal of the contest: to accelerate wireless adoption.â€
Entrants using ‘Hornet Accelerator’ will be eligible for the ‘Leapfrog – most promising’ category, either as a pre-commercial or student entrant. Three Leapfrog pre-commercial entrants will be awarded free access to NEWT’s state-of-the-art wireless test facility, technical development advice, business mentorship, and venture capital contacts. Valued at $30,000 each, the award is designed to move an idea toward market-ready stage within six months. The student winner will receive a Nokia N-Gage device and access to NEWT’s state-of-the-art facility to be given the opportunity to bring that application to commercial success.
Developing an application for the Hornet environment also ensures that the entrant is eligible for inclusion in the Hornet Developer Network: a global application development and deployment network that addresses the needs for compelling mobile applications for commercial operators around the world. In essence, the application may be bought and deployed by a mobile operator or service provider for consumer use.
The second annual Wireless Innovation Contest (WIC 2005) was launched on September 29 with key partners TELUS Mobility, Nokia and other industry partners PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG, the Network for Emerging Wireless Technologies (NEWT) and WiTec Alberta. Call for entries started on November 1, 2004.
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About WINBC
WINBC (Wireless Innovation Network Society of BC) is the producer of WIC 05 and the focal point for wireless in BC. British Columbia has a history of wireless expertise and innovation, and has a critical mass of 150 wireless companies in all areas of the wireless technology value chain including Sierra Wireless, Nokia and others. WINBC is also the host of the Wireless Innovation Contest. To find your wireless partner go to: www.winbc.org. To see if you are eligible for the contest go to www.winbc.org/contest.
About Contec Innovations
Founded in 1999, Contec accelerates the growth of the mobile Internet by enabling mobile service providers to capitalize on new data services. Contec’s objective is to provide a complete mobile data solution by providing a technologically advanced delivery system, the Hornet, and compelling applications that are currently being demanded by mobile operators and service providers. Contec’s core product, the Hornetâ„¢, is an open, carrier-class mobile services delivery platform capable of hosting multiple mobile applications in a secure, scalable environment. With Hornet, service providers can generate new revenues by efficiently deploying reliable and compelling data applications. Contec is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada and is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol “BUZâ€. For more information, visit www.contec.ca.
For further information, please contact:
Asa Zanatta, media relations
Tel: 604 408 1389/(cell) 604 724 7755
E-mail: azanatta@spiritcommunications.ca”
