Irish mobile software companies Altobridge and Sentry Wireless have been selected as finalists in the GSM Association’s Mobile Innovation Grand Prix, Asia Pacific Tournament.
Mobile security solutions player Sentry Wireless has been nominated for its anti-SMS spam solution, SpamGuard, which uses Sentry Wireless’ award-winning and patented technology to enable subscribers to identify and block SMS spam in one click using a client on the SIM or handset.
Solution to spam
This is the only spam solution that is visible to the subscriber and demonstrates that the operator is taking proactive action against messaging abuse.
“SpamGuard addresses one of the biggest frustrations that operator subscribers experience – the inability to deal with SMS spam. It sets the standard for stopping SMS spam,” said Matt Norton, chief executive officer of Sentry Wireless.
Provider of cost-effective wireless solutions for mobile network operators (MNOs), Altobridge, has been nominated for its pioneering technology behind the company’s Remote Community Solution.
Altobridge’s technology is aimed at MNOs in emerging markets and has been deployed successfully in commercial operations in Asia, with further deployments ongoing in Africa and Latin America.
Asia deployments
The deployments in Asia (in Malaysia and Mongolia), have seen profitable cellular services reach small, remote communities where no viable delivery of mobile telephony services had previously been possible. The patented breakthrough technologies are set to make a powerful contribution to MNOs in other emerging markets where several trials are under way.
“Our Remote Community Solution is set to change the lives of people living and working in small communities in the remotest parts of the world,” Mike Fitzgerald, Altobridge chief executive officer explained.
The Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Conor Lenihan TD, congratulated both companies on being selected as finalists for these prestigious awards.
“The Mobile Asia Congress is one of the industry’s highest-profile events, and for two Irish companies to be represented in the final five demonstrates the pioneering breakthroughs both have made on the global mobile technologies’ stage,” said Lenihan.
For the Smart Economy
Lenihan went on to say that building Ireland’s Smart Economy is about establishing Ireland as an innovation hub.
“It involves building the innovation or ‘ideas’ component of the Irish economy and developing a high-value, research-intensive, multinational community alongside thriving innovative Irish companies.
“Altobridge and Sentry Wireless’ progress is a positive reflection of the Government’s Smart Economy blueprint, which sets out to achieve that precise model for the software sector. I am confident that this strategy will ensure Ireland’s software industry meets these new market opportunities delivering more highly skilled, sustainable and well-paid jobs in our economy.”
The two companies will present their solutions to judges, who are made up of senior industry figures drawn from large mobile operators and venture capitalists, at the Mobile Asia Congress in Hong Kong, 18-19 November.
Two overall winners will win a trip to compete for the Mobile Innovation Grand Prix title, part of the GSMA’s Global Mobile Awards, at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February 2010, the most important event in the mobile industry’s calendar.
By John Kennedy
Photo: Irish mobile software companies Altobridge and Sentry Wireless are finalists in the GSM Association’s Mobile Innovation Grand Prix, Asia Pacific Tournament.
