Nokia Launches Competition to Find 'RULERS of the Mobile World'

ESPOO, Finland, July 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nokia , together with a number of high-profile sponsors today announced the launch of its second annual competition for developers and entrepreneurs working in the mobile space. The 'Mobile Rules!' competition aims to promote excellence in both applications developed for mobile and for businesses launching or promoting services in the mobile arena. The initiative is in its second year. In 2006, it was launched as the 'Web2Mobile' competition; the change of name reflects the increased scope, prizes and reach of this year's contest.

Commenting on the launch of the competition, Vesa Luiro, Director, Communication Solutions with Nokia, said: "At the heart of Nokia's business lies innovation - both in mobile devices and in the services and solutions that will enhance the experience of mobile users. Nokia is a pioneer in 'open collaboration' - working with a range of academic, commercial and non-profit organizations on technology research and development to bring together the best combination of minds in our fields of interest. 'Mobile Rules!' is a way for us to encourage and promote innovation in mobile services and, at the same time, it reflects Nokia's inclusive attitude towards partnering with external organizations."

The competition is divided into two 'tracks'. The first is for qualified developers working on mobile applications for Nokia platforms in four categories: 'multiplayer and connected games', 'multimedia', 'enterprise' and 'infotainment'. The second is aimed at entrepreneurs, small businesses, start-ups and academic institutions and is for business plans in the mobile space, both those designed specifically for mobile devices and those that make existing static businesses mobile.

With one winner and two runners-up per category in Track One and one winner and two runners-up in Track Two, the competition prizes include Nokia devices, memberships of Forum Nokia Launchpad, promotion of the winning application/plan through channels owned by Nokia or other competition sponsors and expert advice from Nokia specialists. The five overall winners will also be offered the chance to develop a contract with one of the competition sponsors or a significant cash prize if no contract is awarded.

In 2006, the competition focused only on business plans and the winners were: a mobile community for music fans; a peer-to-peer mobile file-sharing application; an application for estate agents to improve customer service and a service providing multiple identities on a single mobile device. More details of last year's winners, entry terms and conditions and prizes can be found on the competition web site at: http://www.mobilerules.org/.

"Mobile solutions for consumers and businesses is one of the hottest development arenas in technology," concluded Vesa Luiro. But this can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, demand and the scope for innovation are great. On the other, the crowded market means it can be difficult for smaller companies, entrepreneurs and developers to get their voice heard. 'Mobile Rules!' allows Nokia to promote excellence in mobile and - as well as providing immediate recognition and valuable prizes - will open doors for our winners in the years ahead."

More information about the competition (including details of terms and conditions, prizes, judging and entry forms): whttp://www.mobilerules.org/

About Nokia

Nokia is the world leader in mobility, driving the transformation and growth of the converging Internet and communications industries. Nokia makes a wide range of mobile devices and provides people with experiences in music, navigation, video, television, imaging, games and business mobility through these devices. Nokia also provides equipment, solutions and services for communications networks.

Other competition sponsors About BlueRun Ventures

Launched in 1998, BlueRun Ventures is a leading early stage venture capital fund. BlueRun Ventures' proven approach is to invest globally as a single fund in best-of-breed technologies and teams with the drive and ability to build leading global companies. BlueRun Ventures is headquartered in Menlo Park, California, with offices in Helsinki, Herzelia, Mumbai, Seoul, and Shanghai. For more information, visit http://www.brv.com/

About CMEA Ventures

CMEA Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on life sciences, high technology, and energy & materials investments. CMEA believes that the most successful venture backed companies are science focused with experienced teams intent on winning. As a result, CMEA's portfolio companies typically have cutting edge and highly differentiated technology at their core, with founding teams of the highest caliber. CMEA invests in both early and late stage ventures, and has a strong network of corporate, investment, and entrepreneurial relationships that it leverages on behalf of its portfolio companies. The firm currently manages six funds representing investments in excess of $770 million. CMEA has been an early stage investor in many leading Silicon Valley high technology companies, including Flextronics (FLEX), Magma (LAVA), Maxygen (MAXY), Monogram Biosciences (MGRM), Silicon Spice (BRCM), Symyx (SMMX), and Syrrx (purchased by Takeda.) CMEA Ventures was founded in 1989 and maintains offices in San Francisco and Menlo Park. CMEA's partners and associates have extensive science, engineering, and operational backgrounds that particularly suit CMEA's focus on technology and teams --- an effective differentiator for entrepreneurs and venture investment partners who dare to change the world, one great company at a time. http://www.cmeaventures.com/

About FinNode

Comprised of members of the business and technology community, FinNode is a network designed to help Silicon Valley companies connect with partners in Finland and the U.S. With domain expertise in 23 different industries, FinNode provides resources for business development, internationalization, R&D, outsourcing, intellectual property licensing, venture funding and university partnerships. The FinNode community offers executive-level contacts and expertise relevant to Fortune 1000 companies, start-ups and universities. For more information, please visit http://www.finnode.com/

About Nokia Growth Partners

Nokia Growth Partners is a diversified institutional investment management firm headquartered in Menlo Park, CA. It is fully funded by Nokia with USD200M under management. Nokia Growth Partners invests globally directly into growth stage technology companies as a Venture Capital Fund and participates as a limited partner in select venture capital and private equity funds with its Fund of Funds program. Nokia Growth Partners is funded by Nokia to provide superior returns and investments into companies, firms, and people that are changing the face of mobility, communications, and the internet. For more information visit http://www.nokiagrowthpartners.com/

About Red Herring

Red Herring is a global media company which unites the world's best high technology innovators, venture investors and business decision makers in a variety of forums: a leading innovation magazine, an online daily technology news service, technology newsletters and major events for technology leaders around the globe. Red Herring provides an insider's access to the global innovation economy, featuring unparalleled insights on the emerging technologies driving the economy. More information about Red Herring is available on the Internet at http://www.redherring.com/

About SK Telecom International

SK Telecom International (SKTI) was established in 1995 by SK Telecom. SKTI is a team performing market research, business incubation, and corporate development investments. We serve as the business gateway entrance to global partners for our parent company, SK Telecom. We enable SK Telecom to compound their high technology edge and international expansion by investigating, introducing, developing and delivering transcending innovative companies through technology transfer, integration and investment.

About SNAP Mobile

Nokia's SNAP Mobile is an industry leading mobile Java(TM) gaming solution that covers middleware and technology, hosting, maintenance, and online community management. It is available to 3rd parties for connected mobile game development and publishing, and also offers mobile game community development to operators. The SNAP Mobile platform currently supports a wide variety of Java(TM) MIDP2.0 compliant phones and has a rapidly growing selection of connected mobile games with the variety and level of challenge that appeals to players of all ages. For more information about SNAP Mobile, please visit http://www.snapmobile.nokia.com/

About SVASE

Founded in 1995 by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs, The Silicon Valley Association of Startup Entrepreneurs (SVASE) is the largest and fastest growing nonprofit in Northern California dedicated exclusively to helping technology and life science entrepreneurs start and grow successful businesses. SVASE provides support and resources for entrepreneurs, from the idea through initial rounds of funding to product launch, delivered at 12 monthly events and a continually evolving web site. For more information about SVASE, please visit http://www.svase.org/

About Vision Capital

Vision Capital is a Trans-Atlantic venture fund providing growth capital for leading technology companies. Vision invests in promising European and US technology companies and then takes an active, hands-on approach in expanding these businesses across the Atlantic.

For more information: http://www.visioncap.com/ About ZEF Solutions

ZEF is an award-winning and popular web-based solution for collecting and analysing opinions. ZEF's powerful two-dimensional method illustrates results at a glance. This unique solution has been used in - among other examples - Presidential elections and during the Idols competition. A World Record, with over 300,000 evaluators participating in one survey, was set using ZEF. For more information, visit http://www.zef.fi/

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