BEST MOBILE TELECOMS APPLICATIONS>> Yiannis Hatzopoulos, Islamic SIMcard

1. Give us a brief overview of the project

   In an era of globalization, localization is paramount in penetrating new markets. Thus, we find in international markets Kosher mobile phones or quite expensive Buddhist and Islamic smartphones. In this project, the focus was on the Muslim population, which is estimated to be 1.5 billion people. Among them several hundred million GSM SIM mobile phones are active; a great number of which are low-end phones, having no GPS, mobile compass hardware or even J2ME. This project proposed the instant transformation of the most basic 30$ SIM mobile phone into an Islamic phone, leveraging the existing SIM hardware inside the handset. The service provided can be backed by unobtrusive location based mobile advertising.

2. What were the driving factors that led to the development of this application?

   The Islamic SIM card project began as a technology experiment in early 2009, in an effort to introduce functions found in Islamic smartphones into entry level GSM phones --many of them operating in Asian and developing world markets, just by using the phones' SIMs.

   This meant that even entry level mobile phones could be instantly turned into Islamic handsets based on their SIMs and allow their users to receive, among other things, reliable orientation directions towards Mecca and audible Islamic prayer alarms globally, in a way that is very efficient for the network operators – easy to use, and working on practically every GSM handset in the market. And why not? This SIM application could even be sponsored by big companies wishing to enhance their market identity among Muslim populations.

3. How did winning the SIMagine 2010 Award aid in the development and launch?

   The project was submitted to SIMagine 2010 and received one of three 'Best Mobile Application' awards on that year's contest. Through business contacts established in SIMposium 2010 the necessary technology resources were made available, allowing engagement in creating the first mobile network connected Islamic SIM cards and get everything in place to link to the internet application server which backs the operation of this mobile service..

4. What next for the Islamic SIMcard?

   Currently, marketability evaluations and test runs are under way to fine-tune the service and hopefully hit the markets at some point. Up to this stage the project has been privately funded -- by the end of the marketability assessment a new company is expected to be formed to run it commercially, and additional venture capital involvement will probably be sought.

GOLD PRIZE BEST START UP PROJECT>> Elliot Klein, Benoit Richard & Ian Gertler, eVOTZ

1. Give us a brief overview of the project

   eVOTZ is a secure mobile voting platform transforming mobile devices into trustworthy election voting machines. eVOTZ accomplishes this by applying SIM card identification with other security elements and location-based mobile applications to create a new verification and authentication method for any election or polling event.

2. What were the driving factors that led to the development of this application?

   eVOTZ believes the market growth of mobile provides the best next-generation platform for shareholder proxy and annual general meeting (AGM) voting services to expand and generate incremental revenue to the firms that service this marketplace. The mobile industry is moving toward “location-triggering” routines that communicate with applications, devices and mobile carrier networks to produce new shareholder proxy vote productivity tools, security services, and more.

3. How did winning the SIMagine 2010 Award aid in the development and launch?

   The team received legal guidance from Kahn & Associates and is in discussion with VENTECH and other sponsors of the competition that have offered business and financial guidance to build eVOTZ into a successful new SIM solution platform and international growth company. Elliot Klein, Founder of eVOTZ, says “We set the stage for becoming one of the new international mobile growth leaders that would not have been possible without the SIM competition’s worldwide recognition and overall business and R&D guidance from SIMalliance members and sponsors.”

4. What next for eVOTZ?

   The Company’s next step is for European expansion based on the SIMalliance opportunity. eVOTZ is now a member of TELECOM ParisTech Entrepreneurs. the most dynamic telecom-specialized incubator in France: Eurecom Telecom ParisTech Entrepreneurs (Sophia Antipolis, Côte d’Azur) that is attached to the most prestigious Telecom Engineering School in France, Telecom ParisTech that is is providing long-term IT and telecom support and development. The eVOTZ office in Sophia Antipolis will open in March, 2011.

   eVOTZ has already been working with guidance and support of several SIMallinace members on commercial opportunities and is delighted by the innovation opportunities being provided by firms like InCard and other SIMalliance Board Members. At this time, we welcome all SIMallaince members to explore joining with eVOTZ to learn more, and explore how they can promote and deliver eVOTZ solutions to their customers and to continue SIM innovation in an exciting growth area—secure mobile voting.