NZ/AUS developer finalist in Nokia innovators comp

NZ/AUS developer a top 3 finalist in Nokia’s global innovators competition
- Chosen from over 1,700 submissions from developers in 85 countries-

20 August 2009, Auckland, New Zealand – New Zealand and Australian software developer, Pocketweb, has been named as a finalist in the Forum Nokia Developer Community’s (FNDC) 2009 Calling All Innovators contest, a global mobile developer competition designed to generate applications that enhance the use of Nokia mobile devices.

Over 1,700 submissions were received from developers in 85 countries signalling a strong response to Nokia’s challenge to think big and create mobile applications and services that can help build a better mobile user experience.

Pocket web, head quartered in Wanaka New Zealand, is one of three finalists in the ‘Apps on Maps’ category, in which developers were asked to submit new ideas that harness the power of location-aware services using Ovi Maps on Nokia devices.

Pocketweb’s application is Pocket Life – pocketlife.com - an established location-based social network application for web and mobile. The application allows users to share their current location - and other memorable locations - via GPS and mapping services such as Nokia’s Ovi Maps.

Managing director of Nokia, Australia and New Zealand, Emile Baak, says it is fantastic to see a New Zealand developer performing so well against tough global competition.

“The aim of the Calling All Innovators competition is to expose the best mobile applications from our developer community to consumers around the world.

“I would like to offer my congratulations to Pocketweb, the quantity and quality of the applications we received for the competition was astounding, so being named a finalist is a great achievement,” Mr Baak said.

CEO of Pocketweb, Dr. Alexander Koeppen, says the company is pleased to have been named a finalist.

“We are extremely proud to be the first start up from New Zealand to be named as a finalist in the prestigious Nokia awards. Nokia platforms pave the way for new social networking opportunities and will help us to create a unique user experience and reach more and more users,” Mr Koeppen said.

Pocketweb’s chief architect, Tony Culshaw, said: “With each evolving Ovi Maps SDK release, Nokia has provided a convincing and forward looking approach to location based applications.

“Our team has worked hard to showcase how these technologies can be effectively integrated with other platforms. This recognition from Nokia confirms our strategy of positioning Pocket Life as a standard application for location based services on leading mobile platforms,” Mr Culshaw said.

The total cash and prizes for the 2009 Calling All Innovators contest are worth more than $250,000. As one of the top three submissions in its category Pocketweb will receive a cash award, and prizes that include premium placement featuring the winning application in Nokia's Ovi Store, and the opportunity to demonstrate its winning apps at Nokia World.
The overall winner in the Apps on Maps category will be announced on 3rd September during Nokia World 2009 in Stuttgart, Germany. Other category winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on 1st September.

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About Forum Nokia Developer Community
Nokia's global developer program, Forum Nokia Developer Community (FNDC) connects developers to tools, technical information, support, and distribution channels they can use to build and market applications around the globe. From offices in the U.S., Europe, India, Japan, China, and Singapore, FNDC provides technical and business development support to developers and operators to assist them in achieving their goal of successfully launching applications and services to consumers and enterprises. More information is available at www.forum.nokia.com.

About Nokia
Nokia is a pioneer in mobile telecommunications and the world’s leading maker of mobile devices. Today, we are connecting people in new and different ways - fusing advanced mobile technology with personalized services to enable people to stay close to what matters to them. We also provide comprehensive digital map information through NAVTEQ; and equipment, solutions and services for communications networks through Nokia Siemens Networks.

About Pocketweb
New Zealand and Australia based company Pocketweb (www.pocketweb.com.au) develops and provides technologies and solutions for Location Based Services (LBS) and LBS-enabled Social Networks including customized mobile applications for several mobile platforms. In 2008 Pocketweb launched the leading geo-integration platform “Pocket Life” for mobile devices and web browsers which provides applications and bundled solutions for consumer and B2B markets.

About Pocket Life
Pocket Life is positioned as the secure standard application on the mobile phone to control the user’s visibility to others and to make use of location based services as well as social media features, proximity based search and value add geo-advertising. Pocket Life is a future-proof geo-aware and globally scalable platform that works with all carriers and most mobile platforms (iPhone, Nokia, Blackberry, Android coming soon). Pocket Life can be leveraged by corporate clients for customized mobile services, CRM, geo-Marketing and PR solutions. Details on this location-based social network are available at www.pocketlife.com

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