The Mobile Innovation Marketplace at the Mobile Asia Congress is a uniqueplatform for top innovators competing for the Mobile Innovation Global AwardChampionship title. During this event 15 emerging growth companies from aroundthe world competed in five categories and their innovative products andservices were reviewed by senior executives from mobile operators, industrysuppliers and venture capital organisations. The distinguished judging panelincluded representatives from Vodafone Ventures, Belgacom, Orange, SK Telecom,Telecom Italia, Microsoft, Intel Capital, and ICT 168 Capital.

The Global Finalists for the 2009 Mobile Innovation Global AwardCompetition - APAC Tournament are:

-- TuneWiki, US -- CooTek, China And the five Global Semi-Finalists are: Most Innovative Wireless Device-centric Technology -- CooTek, China Most Innovative Carrier Infrastructure or Platform -- Sunbay, Switzerland Most Innovative Mobile Application in a Vertical Market -- Impetus Technologies, India Most Innovative Consumer Application or Service -- TuneWiki, US Most Innovative 'True Mobile Start-Up' -- Sentry Wireless, Ireland "Driven by an impressive entrepreneurial spirit and a desire for technicalexcellence, it's clear there are some outstanding opportunities ahead forthese highly innovative companies with their 'best of breed' products andservices," said Bill Gajda, Chief Commercial Officer for the GSMA. "Wecommend the enthusiasm and commitment shown by all the finalists in thecompetition, who have clearly shown they have what it takes to succeed in themobile world."

The Mobile Innovation Global Award Competition was created by the GSMA aspart of the Mobile Innovation Market, which encourages breakthroughtechnology, applications and services in the mobile industry by bringingtogether smaller companies developing innovative mobile products andsolutions, with industry investors from leading venture capital firms andsenior figures from mobile operators and leading global brands.

TuneWiki and CooTek have won the right to compete against other regionalMobile Innovation Global Finalists for the prestigious title of the 2009 GSMAMobile Innovation Global Award Champion, to be named during the GSMA's MobileWorld Congress, the largest, most significant and most successful globalmobile event in the world, in Barcelona next February. The Platinum sponsorof the Mobile Innovation Marketplace is the Generalitat de Catalunya(Government of Catalonia).

Quotes from the judges

"We have seen some great innovation from these brave young enterprises.Through this continuing innovation, the mobile industry can overcome thecurrent financial crisis and continue to generate values to our customers,"said Dr Cheol Kim, Team Leader of Future Business Sourcing Team, SK Telecom

"We are delighted and encouraged by the innovation displayed at thisyear's Mobile Innovation Marketplace at the GSMA's Mobile Asia Congress. Welook forward to partnering with a number of these start-ups," said MatthewFix, Principal, Vodafone Ventures

"I was very impressed by the quality of the companies presenting in Macauat the Mobile Innovation Marketplace. TuneWiki was a deserving winner in whatturned out to be an extremely competitive process," said Marcos Battisti,Sector Director, Mobility, EMEA, Intel Capital

"TuneWiki's winning solution is an interesting innovation that bringstogether music and the community world with lyrics in multiple languages,which will be really cool for young people," said Paolo Paganucci, Presidentof Scouting & Benchmarking, TIM

"In the face of challenging economic times, it's great to see the pace ofinnovation has not slackened," said Jeff Belk, Principal, ICT 168 Capital

"This competition has been the toughest of all of the tournaments so far,with exceptional choice. The two winners, though, have great technologies.CooTek provides essential 'next generation' technology for touch phones, whileTuneWiki takes karaoke to everyone. I can't wait to hear the revellers in theParis Metro," said Steve Glagow, VP Marketing, Orange Partner Program, Orange

"Great companies! Great ideas! I was pleased to see more 'greener' and'social' related solutions, which is very promising," said Frederic Schepens,EVP Strategic Business Development, Belgacom, ICS

For more information on the GSMA's Mobile Innovation Market and the MobileInnovation Global Award Competition, please visit:http://www.mobileinnovation.org and http://www.mobileinnovation.org/awards.

Entry for the Mobile Innovation Global Award Competition - EMEATournament, to be held at the GSMA's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona inFebruary, closes on December 5th, 2008.

About the GSMA

The GSM Association (GSMA) is the global trade group representing morethan 750 GSM mobile operators across 218 countries and territories of theworld. The Association's members represent more than 3 billion GSM and 3GSMconnections -- over 86% of the world's mobile phone connections. In addition,more than 200 manufacturers and suppliers support the Association'sinitiatives.

The primary goals of the GSMA are to ensure mobile phones and wirelessservices work globally and are easily accessible, enhancing their value toindividual customers and national economies, while creating new businessopportunities for operators and their suppliers.

The GSMA's Mobile Asia Congress

The GSMA is co-organising the Mobile Asia Congress 2008 at the CotaiStrip(R)CotaiExpo(TM), the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel with China Mobile andChina Unicom From 18-20 November 2008. Telenor, one of the largest pan-Asiaoperators, is a platinum sponsor of the event; Nokia China is a gold sponsor.

For more information, visit: http://www.gsm.org.

SOURCE GSM Association