Messaging Infrastructure or Platform
Awarded to the product that has enhanced the existing messaging network by providing greater capacity, security, reliability or adds an additional application.
Financial Services
WINNER - mBlox
With the mobile phone approaching full market penetration across European markets and North America and many parts of Asia rapidly catching up, there is no better or more productive way than the mobile for financial services companies to serve customers-nor is there any channel that's more direct. mBlox Financial Services (FS) is tailored to enhance financial institutions' ability to take advantage of the largest media channel, the mobile, across the globe. Acting as the gateway to operators and FS customers across the world, mBlox's mobile banking services drive SMS traffic.
Only 20% of families in Africa have bank accounts (The Economist, 17.11.07) but many have mobile phones, providing them with access to financial services. Over 50% of mBlox's mobile banking traffic is in emerging markets, supporting the growth of these services and opening up banking solutions where the existing bricks and mortar or web infrastructure are not in place. The security, reliability and its ease of use, means that mBlox is at the forefront of powering mobile banking solutions, working with customers such as Monitise in the UK, Atrait in Africa and Garanti Bank in Turkey amongst many others around the globe.
AirGate platform
Airwide Solutions, UK
AirGate is an advanced mobile application and traffic management platform which allows mobile operators to rapidly deploy third party applications and value-added services across multiple delivery channels - SMS, MMS, WAP and the Web.
Against a backdrop of increasing competition and customer churn, AirGate allows operators to differentiate themselves by launching innovative services within minutes (rather than days). Using AirGate, operators can incorporate network and subscriber intelligence (such as content preferences and presence based information) with mobile applications and content to create highly contextual and relevant services. It is the only truly flexible gateway allowing operators to easily integrate a variety of network resources.
AirGate combines core features with value added functionality providing a unique ability to connect to an operator's capabilities, define how messages interact with those capabilities, and enable internal and external services to benefit from them. It also allows operators to define new business models and easily adapt to changing technology.
Mobile Device Management
Mformation
Messaging services that do not work first time are unlikely to be used again. Poor initial performance is a major barrier to widespread adoption. In many markets, devices are sourced independently of the operator, causing many services (e.g. MMS) not to work. MFORMATION SERVICE MANAGER (MSM) optimises (messaging) services on any device by: Detecting new devices and device status; Configuring operator connectivity and service settings; Distributing and updating applications; Troubleshooting issues on the devices;
With MSM, operators can ensure that high-value services are working trouble-free and can be enhanced with no need for physical access to the device. One Mformation customer indicated after deploying the solution, call center call volumes for many types handsets were reduced by over 50%. This same customer reported that 1/3 of the users who were automatically sent the correct settings when they signed onto the operator's network subsequently used the MMS service.
Messaging Application/Service: Public Sector/not for profit
Awarded to the organisation that has used mobile messaging to the best effect by providing an effective information or feedback service, alerts or awareness campaign.
WINNER - Obama Mobile
Distributive Networks and SinglePoint www.barackobama.com/mobile
Obama Mobile has set the gold standard for harnessing the power of mobile technology to engage supporters and to drive a political movement. To date, no other political campaign or non-profit has offered so comprehensive or so effective a mobile messaging program, and one so well customized for the true nature of the mobile medium. Obama Mobile provides supporters with ongoing outbound messaging that is truly customized to real-time events and to supporters' geography and interest areas, and the ability to respond thoughtfully and promptly to inbound messages on a scale never before achieved.
The technology that drives Obama Mobile, developed by Distributive Networks and executed in partnership with SinglePoint, has raised the bar not only for political/non-profit mobile outreach, but for mobile outreach for any brand or organization. Obama Mobile demonstrates the best that is possible through SMS communications: succinct, personalized, real-time, two-way interaction that is ideally integrated into a multimedia communications strategy.
Obama Mobile is powered by Distributive Networks' proprietary mobile messaging platform, with all messages delivered in partnership with SinglePoint, a leading wireless connectivity aggregator. The platform has provided the campaign with the ability to deliver both immediate and scheduled outbound messages to any combination of an unlimited number of subscriber lists (organized by primary state, issue interest, etc.), and to review the effectiveness of outreach efforts by testing the uptake of specific keywords. The Obama Mobile solution has far exceeded the expectations set by the Obama for America campaign, and the U.S. press has unanimously lauded Obama Mobile as the exemplary demonstration of the power of text messaging.
mDubai-SALIK Toll Alerts- Ducont FZ LLC www.salik.ae
Ducont has been instrumental in providing the mobile strategy to the Dubai eGovernment and in bringing several mobile initiatives in Dubai covering various departments like Police, Immigration, Municipality, Hospitals etc.,
mDubai-SALIK alerts - Salik (In Arabic: "clear and moving") is the name given to the road toll system in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. SALIK utilizes the latest open road tolling technology to achieve free flow operation with no toll booths, no toll collectors, and no impact to traffic flow, allowing vehicles to move freely through the tolling point at highway speeds. RFID technology has been used for tagging the cars and SMS technology has been used effectively to communicate between the Road Transport Authority and commuters. SALIK is the first toll project in the world to use SMS technology.
mDubai SALIK toll alerts is a unique project which utilizes various e-channels like the internet, IVR and SMS. Of these channels, SMS is the closest to the customer and provides information about his SALIK accounts, toll fines, road information to their mobile phones wherever they are and whenever an event happens. It provides the ability to the customers to top up their accounts via SMS thus eliminating the need for the customer to visit the RTA counters or to log on to the internet to check their SALIK account status.
Save the Children mobile fundraising campaign - Incentivated Ltd
Save the Children launched their first mobile fundraising initiative as part of an integrated global campaign. The campaign invites members of the public to buy one of seven life-saving solutions for children in developing countries via their mobile phones.
Each solution has a dedicated keyword. These are NUT (to donate sachets of peanut butter which can aid malnutrition), NET (mosquito nets), BLANKET (baby blankets), WATER (water filters), THERM (thermometers), SALTS (sachets of rehydration salts) and JAB (vaccination jabs). The cost of the gift is added to the donor's mobile phone bill.
The campaign also includes a dedicated mobile internet site and a 'measles virus' java application that is sent to mobile phones via Bluetooth from where further donations can be made and friends recruited virally. Bluetooth units have been installed in Save The Children's top 20 stores by footfall. Advertising is running on outdoor sites as well as in press.
Adding a mobile element to the fund raising campaign offered members of the public a quick, easy and instant method of donating life saving solutions to under privileged children worldwide.
Messaging Application/Service: Business
Judges looked for innovative and practical ways that enterprises have made the best use of mobile messaging in their business using this application.
WINNER- Metropolitan Life's Cover2Go Delivers Insurance Policies to Cell Phone - Using Clickatell SMS Gateway
The Metropolitan Life use case, called Cover2Go, works like this: The policy is bought by sending your name and ID number to a premium-rate short code (bill is applied to phone's plan). The system, powered by Clickatell, replies with a confirmation and policy number, requests the name of a beneficiary, and reminds the policyholder to make sure they've informed someone about the life insurance. Once the policy expires, a notification is sent asking if they choose to renew. One policy is permitted per person. This service can be applied anywhere globally if they choose to expand the service offering.
Metropolitan Cover2go is an authorized financial services provider, committed to providing innovative, affordable, no-fuss insurance products for communities in South Africa and beyond. By using innovative distribution and premium collection methods and technology that is relevant to the markets we serve, Cover2go is able to develop and deliver affordable insurance products to people who may not have bank accounts or access to traditional insurance agents.
Mobile Enterprise Messaging Suite (MEMS) - SOPRANO
SOPRANO Mobile Enterprise Messaging Suite provides Mobile Network Operators with a growing suite of sophisticated value-add, ready to use, web accessible mobile messaging applications to increase SMS, MMS and Email revenue.
Enterprise customers use SOPRANO MEMS to communicate with employees, customers and suppliers, run interactive mobile marketing campaigns, automate job offers and shift confirmations, provide 2-factor authentication to secure online transactions, schedule appointment reminders to improve appointment attendance, and issue barcodes for product promotion and ticketed events.
Enterprise customers benefit through rapid low cost activation using pre-integrated applications to popular CRM, ERP, Billing, HR and Workforce Management systems. SOPRANO MEMS makes mobile messaging relevant to business.
mobi-pass is Mobiqa's innovation in boarding pass efficiency and versatility. mobi-pass incorporates a passenger's details in an IATA compliant barcode that is sent directly to their mobile phone in the form of an MMS or WAP message. Mobiqa's patented Optimiser delivers a scannable barcode based on handset and network capabilities and combines the optimised barcode with the logo and text allowing for reliable scanning and uncompromised security. Mobiqa also support non-MMS handsets such as iPhone and have a database of over 1,200 handsets which are tested for delivery and scanability. Mobiqa's services are available in over 100 countries across six continents and our experience in mobile barcode technology implementation is second to none.
mobi-pass delivers huge savings to the airline industry and provides passengers with a convenient and efficient way to board their flight without the hassle of queuing at check-in desks. mobi-pass is also highly versatile and can double up as a coupon or voucher for airlines' corporate partners to promote their services to passengers. Space around the mobi-pass barcode can also be sold to commercial partners for airlines to generate more revenues through advertising.
Messaging Application/Service: Consumer
Awarded to the company with the product or service that has best stimulated consumers to use mobile messaging.
WINNER - Mobile Music Toolkit - Myxer
Myxer's Mobile Music Toolkit provides promising independent bands and labels the means to share and promote songs, photos, ringtones and wallpapers directly from their own website, social networking profile or blog via their mobile. Powered by mBlox, it includes MyxerTags, a widget made up of a snippet of code that visitors can place in their MySpace page or on their own existing website or blog to promote their favourite band, giving listeners access to artist content and information directly from their mobile.
As a mobile content community, Myxer embraces the social web and brings it to the mobile market. It makes it easy for independent musicians to promote themselves through social networking and harnesses the power of the mobile. Myxer has created a simple but effective service for new bands to achieve maximum exposure without the need to be experts on exploiting the power and influence of social media.
Myxer recognises that mobiles are the world's largest media channel, crossing all demographics. This is a crucial factor when targeting the music-hungry youth and Myxer also acknowledges the influence of social media amongst the young with the proliferation of sites such as MySpace.
Myxer now has over 6.6 million users. Its homepage receives 2.8 million unique visitors a month and an astonishing 30,000 new people download content each day. Combining the power of the mobile and the effectiveness of social communities amongst the young and the music industry, Myxer has created a successful and simple service that taps into the needs of independent artists and succeeds in achieving its primary objective of enabling artists to promote themselves.
IMPS-SMS Gateway - Acision
Global messaging revenues are expected to double by 2011, driven by interactive messaging demands from the digital youth. Some operators have already launched 'SMS 2.0' services, yet these are not actually SMS related, simply mobile instant messaging branded with a consumer friendly name.
Mobile instant messaging is valuable, but SMS needs to be the starting point for enhanced messaging strategies to meet the full revenue potential - and consumer expectations. It is operators who are best positioned to bring interactive messaging to the mobile. This is the premise behind Acision's IMPS-SMS Gateway offering.
The IMPS-SMS Gateway is born from a recognition that SMS and IM should co-exist to ensure customer choice, protect operators' infrastructure investments and open the way to converged IP messaging.
Consumers enjoy the simplicity and cross network convenience of SMS, however there is a need for messaging enhancement, convergence, interoperability and backwards compatibility. Acision's patented technology ensures that this can happen.
Windows Live Messenger - Turkcell
Turkcell Windows Live Messenger is a service that allows Turkcell subscribers to log on to Windows Live Messenger on their mobile phones through a downloaded application.
In a country that accomodates the third largest Windows Live Messenger community in the world, Turkcell was the first Turkish operator to partner with Microsoft in offering a mobile Windows Live Messenger service. Pairing the existing demand with an extensive and effective marketing campaign by Turkcell, the offer received rapid and strong response from Turkcell subscribers, leading to extremely successful results in terms of instant messaging and value added services worldwide.
The launch campaign of Turkcell Windows Live Messenger has clearly demonstrated that pairing market demand with an advantageous offer and effective marketing can lead to extremely successful results for not only messaging, but also all value added services - even with challenges such as handset limitations.
1.1 million subscribers signed up to use Turkcell Windows Live Messenger in a matter of only three months, translating to 28% penetration, where at least 1 out of 4 Turkcell subscribers with a supporting handset became a mobile Windows Live Messenger user. Turkcell WLM users also produced record-breaking statistics while using the service, logging in 15 million times and exchanging 800 million messages in just three months.
Innovation in Messaging
For this category the judges were looking for what is new and in their opinion looks as though it has potential to make a difference.
WINNER Bluebook - O2 UK
Bluebook is a unique and innovative free service based on the insight that the most valuable thing about mobile phones is now the precious content we keep on them. Bluebook removes the stress of worrying about losing that content and transforms the way we manage and share our mobile lives by backing up all phone numbers* and automatically saving every text and photo message online. Customers can then share that content with friends and relatives using a personal and secure site, or use the Blueblog feature to document their daily lives using photos and messages saved directly from their mobiles.
Bluebook is the first service of its kind in the UK that breaks the dependency between mobile messages and the handset. In doing so, Bluebook solves a very real and painful problem that at least 1 in three people face. Bluebook customers will no longer lose their precious memories when they lose their phones or experience that sinking feeling when the data trapped on their devices is gone forever. For the 19% of people who have left their phones on the back of the bus, the 14% who have left it in the pub or the 12% who have dropped in down the toilet Bluebook really will make all the difference!
Interactive Monitoring system for lone workers - Complicity Active Monitoring Ltd, trading as SafetyInNumbersUK.com
The service is aimed at the lone worker market. The main difference from the competition is that the SafetyInNumbersUK system requires an interactive response via SMS to establish that the user is OK and is not under duress.
Alternative lone worker systems typically provide tracking, together with a push button alarm. These systems ignore situations where the user is incapacitated or under close duress. Pressing a panic alarm is of little use over and above simply placing a normal voice call and location services are of no use if the user is no longer with the phone. It makes use of the SMS service in an innovative way and provides a step forward in lone monitoring services which is a current growth area due to increasing health and safety and corporate manslaughter legislation.
SpinVox Messenger - Spinvox
Millions of calls carried by network operators around the world daily are not completed when people make a call and find they are neither connected to the person they want to speak to, nor are they connected to voicemail.
Using SpinVox Messenger, Carriers can now offer the opportunity to `speak a text` when the call does not complete, and SpinVox Messenger automatically converts a voice message into text and delivers it directly to the recipient as an SMS, ensuring call completion. When the recipient gets the SMS text message, they can reply easily with a call or a text message stimulating call continuity.
SpinVox has created an entirely new category of messaging which generates new revenue for Carriers from previously unbillable calls and which allows callers the ability to get a message through to people who either do not have voicemail or whose voicemail is not available. SpinVox customer research shows that when Carriers are enabled with its voice-to-text services, they see a 10 percent uplift in voice traffic and a 15 percent lift in text usage.
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