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GSMA calls for entrants to 2010 Mobile Innovation Grand Prix

The GSMA, in cooperation with its partner Rutberg & Co., is now promoting its 2010 Mobile Innovation Grand Prix"Americas Tournament.

The GSMA is now accepting entry submissions from mobile industry players, which will culminate in an awards ceremony on Dec. 1. The 2010 Mobile Grand Prix will be hosted by Rutberg & Co. at its Future:Mobile 2009 event.

"Attendance is limited to 200 invited senior executives who are responsible for innovation assessment and adoption, strategic partnerships, investments and acquisitions within their organizations," said Lisa West, spokeswoman for the GSMA, London, Britain.

"This constituency of decision-makers, plus analysis-based content produced by Rutberg & Company's research team, creates a unique and valuable platform for executives to examine growth and opportunity in wireless, and for doing real business," she said.

The GSMA (Groupe Speciale Mobile Association) is an organization that represents the interest of the worldwide mobile communications. The GSMA aims to unite key players in the mobile industry such as wireless carriers, handset makers, software companies, equipment providers, Internet companies and media and entertainment organizations.

Rutberg & Co. is a research-centric investment bank that specializes in raising mid-to-late stage funding for emerging companies in the wireless and digital media industries.

The primary goal behind the Mobile Innovation Grand Prix is to showcase promising entrepreneurs from small to mid-sized companies that have the potential to add something beneficial to the mobile industry.

Companies competing in the Grand Prix will be judged on four criteria:
? Annual revenues less than $20 million USD. Ownership cannot consist of Tier 1 or Tier 2 mobile operators or mobile vendors.
? The company's market potential can be shown and that deployment improves the lives of people, small businesses, health, or government by markedly increasing opportunity, reduce costs and improve operating efficiency, as well as improve revenue streams or create revenue or opportunity.
? The application, product, service, or technology can be integrated into the network infrastructure with minimal disruption to existing legacy systems and devices using standard interfaces and does not disrupt or negatively impair existing mobile operator services or volumes.
? An original idea for new or improved functionality or enhancements across carrier infrastructure solutions, general business operations, or has adjacent industry applications.

Up to 10 companies could be nominated to present at the event.

The two most promising presentations will win a trip to compete for the Mobile Innovation Grand Prix title, part of the GSMA's Global Mobile Awards in Barcelona.

"The GSMA will promote the event internally to its 800 mobile operator members and the 200 member companies in the broader mobile ecosystem," Ms. West said. "The GSMA will also issue press releases regarding the nominations and the winners, advertise the event on relevant Web sites and host discussions on the Mobile Innovation Exchange.

"The Mobile Innovation Exchange is an online community whose focus is to promote mobile innovation and builds on the success of the regional events," she said. "This portal facilitates year-round dialogue, deal-making, partnering and consensus building across all the elements of the mobile ecosystem."