(9 November 2006 1:46 pm)

MUMBAI: Qualcomm a developer and innovator of code division multiple access (CDMA) and other advanced wireless technologies, has announced the selection of finalists for the company's wireless reach Brew application funding programme.

As part of Qualcomm's wireless reach initiative, the USD $ one million fund is designed to increase the availability of useful wireless applications in countries around the world.

Qualcomm's wireless reach Brew application funding program has challenged companies to create the most innovative Brew public service application in one of five areas: healthcare; education; public safety; governance; and the environment.

Qualcomm will award five grants in varying amounts for up to a total of USD $500,000 for the most innovative proposals for Brew applications. The remaining amount will be used to put one or more of the winning proposals into action through new or existing wireless reach projects.

Finalists were selected based on a careful review of all applications and include 21 developers from 19 organisations in six countries (in alphabetical order):

- Activepackets - Copiague , New York, U.S.A
- Agrocom software technologies pvt.ltd IIT Bombay - Mumbai , India

- Astute systems technology pvt ltd - Indore , India
- Bandung institute of technology - Bandung , Indonesia
- Beijing InfoQuick SinoVoice speech techology Corp. - Beijing
- Beijing Justel technologies Co., ltd. - Beijing
- BeWell mobile technology, Inc. - Walnut Creek , California, U.S.A
- BookBox India pvt. ltd. - Pondicherry , India
- Digital Ignite - Vienna , Va. , U.S.A
- dotPhoto, Inc./DBA exclaim - West Trenton , New Jersey, U.S.A
- MOBSYS informatica ltda - Sao Paolo, Brazil
- MyFoodPhone - Quebec , Canada
- Spiral Jungle, LLC - Carlsbad , California, U.S.A
- SquareLoop, Inc. - Reston , Va. , U.S.A
- Tata consultancy services - Thane , India
- Tata consultancy services - Mumbai , India
- UC Berkeley - Berkeley , California, U.S.A
- UC Berkeley - Berkeley , California, U.S.A
- UCLA center for international emergency medicine/project HOPE/Konami digital entertainment - Los Angeles
- Zaxis technologies - San Diego
- ZMQ software systems - New Delhi

Qualcomm chief executive officer Paul E Jacobs said, "Qualcomm is proud to recognize these finalists on their dedication to creating Brew applications that will have a positive impact on people's lives."

"We are committed to helping increase the availability of useful Brew applications worldwide and we're pleased to note that the applications we received are creative, inspiring and show a true consideration for the challenges that underserved communities face today. Our goal is to have wireless reach Brew applications from one or more of the grant recipients in action by the summer of 2007," he added.

The 21 finalists have been contacted individually to submit a more in depth proposal by December 31 2006. From these proposals, Qualcomm will announce the recipients of the five individual grants by mid-February 2007.

Qualcomm's wireless reach initiative seeks to connect communities that have limited or no telecommunications access through the use of 3G technologies.

Brew operators and their subscribers benefit from several offerings, which include: uiOne for fast access to high revenue services on wireless devices; deliveryOne for differentiated operator-managed support and delivery of advanced wireless data content and services; and marketOne for a quick-to-market, hosted, scalable content delivery service that includes media titles, flexible management and monetisation, content provider settlement and business intelligence services.