BT ANNOUNCES WINNER OF MOBILE DEVELOPER COMPETITION
Devicescape selected as winning entry
BT today announced that California-based Devicescape is the winner of the BT Developers Challenge competition, designed to promote the development of innovative applications and services for Wi-Fi enabled mobile devices. UAB TeleSoftas’ HandyWi and CipSoft’s TibiaME were also selected as close runners-up in the competition, which was launched at the Symbian Smartphone Show in October.
Jerry Thompson, Director of Value Added Services and Devices for BT, who judged the competition said: “I have been impressed by the range of innovative entries we have received. Ease of use is absolutely critical in maximising the take-up of WiFi applications. Devicescape’s entry takes an innovative and user-friendly approach to WiFi connectivity which has the potential to broaden the horizons of consumers and businesses alike; they are worthy winners!”
Devicescape’s Connect software enables automatic connection of Wi-Fi devices to any Wi-Fi network, avoiding the need to repeatedly launch a browser and enter usernames and passwords. The entry achieved the highest average score across the award criteria, as judged by representatives from BT, Symbian and an independent judge.
Dave Fraser, CEO of Devicescape said: “Devicescape is dedicated to making Wi-Fi easy for consumers and more valuable for our business customers. We are honoured to have been selected by BT and are thrilled that our technology is being used and celebrated around the world.”
Ends
Inquiries about this news release should be made to Mike Witts in the BT Group Newsroom on its 24-hour number: 020 7356 5369. From outside the UK dial + 44 20 7356 5369. All news releases can be accessed at our web site: http://www.bt.com/newscentre.
Notes for editors
Entries were judged on the following criteria:
• Innovative use of Wi-Fi connectivity – to what extent does the application make use of the high bandwidth offered by Wi-Fi to provide an enhanced experience for the user?
• Ease of use – how easy is the application to set up and use for non-technical users? How intuitive and attractive is the application’s user interface? How likely are users to utilise the application on their device?
• Commercial potential – does the application have the potential to secure a large customer base and/or achieve strong revenues?
• Ease of execution / roll-out – how easy and cost effective would it be to roll out the application to a large customer base?
The winners, in order, were:
1st: Devicescape Connect: www.devicescape.com
2nd: UAB TeleSoftas’ HandyWi: www.handywi.com
3rd: CipSoft’s TibiaME: www.tibiame.com
About BT
BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of local, national and international telecommunications services to our customers for use at home, at work and on the move; higher-value broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.
In the year ended 31 March 2007, BT Group plc’s revenue was £20,223 million with profit before taxation of £2,484 million.
British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.
For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt
About Devicescape:
Headquartered in San Bruno, Calif., the company is privately held and venture-backed by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Enterprise Partners Venture Capital, JAFCO Ventures, August Capital, Concept Ventures and Applied Materials. To learn more, please visit www.devicescape.com/company
Devicescape is a registered trademark of Devicescape Software, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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