Tech Shout!

Nokia has announced that it is accepting applications for its Forum Nokia PRO Awards, which will be presented on the eve of the Nokia Mobility Conference (NMC) in Barcelona, November 2-3. The awards are open to all members of Nokia’s advanced developer support program, Forum Nokia PRO, and will be presented to developers who exemplify “best practices” and who have made significant contributions to driving innovation in the mobility industry.

Recipients of the Forum Nokia PRO Awards will receive free membership to 2006 Forum Nokia PRO, valued at more than $5,000, as well as a dedicated company information page on Forum Nokia’s public site.

“Forum Nokia PRO members represent the most advanced and successful companies engaged in creating applications, technologies and services for the global mobility market,” said Marc Naddell, director, Forum Nokia PRO. “By launching this new awards program we can highlight the most outstanding accomplishments in this community and reward companies that are supporting growth and innovation across the mobility industry.”

The Forum Nokia PRO Awards 2005 will recognize outstanding achievement among PRO members in seven categories that are designed to broaden awareness of the most innovative and successful work in the mobile solutions and applications field today.

These categories include:
- 2005 Developer of the Year Award
- Rising Star Award - Presented to application, content or solutions provider with fewer than 30 employees
- ARPU Award — Best business model for operators
- Enterprise Application - Series 60
- Enterprise Application - Series 80
- Gaming/Entertainment Application - Series 40
- Gaming/Entertainment Application - Series 60

Nokia also announced the independent panel of mobile industry journalists and analysts who will select the Forum Nokia PRO Award winners. The judges include Mike Dano, reporter, RCR Wireless News (U.S.); Kevin Fitchard, senior editor, Telephony (U.S.); Glenn Letham, managing editor, SymbianOne.com (Canada); Bryan Ma, associate director, Asia/Pacific Personal Systems Research IDC (Singapore); Mark Newman, chief research officer, Informa Telecoms and Media (U.K.); Stuart O’Brien, editor, Mobile Entertainment (U.K.); Brad Smith, data/IP editor, Wireless Week (U.S.); Yuelong Yan, deputy editor-in-chief of Telecom World Magazine (China) and Eric Zeman, editor-in-chief, Mobile Enterprise magazine (U.S.).

Entries for the Forum Nokia PRO 2005 Awards program are now being accepted online. PRO members may submit entries until September 30. Pro members will be asked for details about their business activities during the last 12 months (the judging period) and they can indicate which categories they wish to be considered for.