The mobile ecosystem is in the midst of an unprecedented wave of transformation. As business models adapt, new verticals and players emerge. Technology evolves, perceptions shift, and lives are improved.
The Mobile World Congress, which will take place from Feb. 14-17 in Barcelona, is doubtless the most important of its kind, and every year, for a couple of days, the city of Barcelona pauses its romantic and alternative style and becomes the centre of the mobile technology world. In this atmosphere, a parallel event like the Mobile Premier Awards means a great opportunity for developers to show their apps.
With an estimated 50,000 mobile professionals from over 200 countries attending the MWC, the congress aims to promote mobile technologies. Now in its fifth year, the MWC will focus on the early stage aspects of mobile development and showcase the most innovative apps from around the world bringing the developers and entrepreneurs to the spotlight.
This post first appeared on ReadRiteWeb Spain.
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Mobile World Congress
In terms of digital innovation, old Europe is usually behind North America and Asia, so hosting a major event like the MWC – which is organized by the GSMA and which unites nearly 800 of the world’s mobile operators and more than 200 companies in the mobile ecosystem – encourages local companies to find better ways to compete.
There are other important European events related to IT, like LeWeb, and certainly they provide an excellent way to attract international attention, but the MWC goes beyond and puts Barcelona, Spain and Europe in the centre of the mobile industry.
Mobile Premier Awards
It sounds like a great idea to award some of the best and most innovative mobile apps in the same city -and at the same time – where major companies, media and every one else interested in mobile technologies are all together talking about the future.
Smartphones have offered a new business line for small developers, a fantastic new line indeed; nevertheless it is very difficult to find success in a market that is full of competitors. The MPA gives entrepreneurs and developers a fantastic chance to show their apps.
The awards are organized by dotopen, a consulting firm, and are supported by major companies with a common goal: promote multi-platform development and establish the awards as the reference for the community formed by entrepreneurs, startups and developers. This year’s awards ceremony will take place for the first time at the amazing Diagonal 00 tower, the new Telefonica R&D Catalunya headquarters.
Last year’s edition received over 600 submissions, and this year the number could be even higher due to the great growth the app market has seen, the tremendous success of the iPhone 4, the rise of Android phones and the arrival of tablets (we mean the proper arrival).
AppCircus at the Mobile Premier Awards
Participation in the MPAs is free to any entrepreneur, company or developer with a mobile app. The nominated apps include a selection of the AppCircus Categories and the winners of last year’s AppCircus events.
AppCircus is a series of traveling shows focused on mobile apps and is produced by dotopen as well.
This traveling showcase is very dynamic, dotopen’s Rudy de Waele told us. “In 2010 we have done over 30 events globally between September and December. In 2011 we plan to do between 50 and 100 events globally,” he said.
You still have a chance to pitch your application at the MPAs: the deadline to submit an app is Jan. 15. Read more information here.
