Minister Lenihan Congratulates Sentry Wireless and Altobridge on Winning Mobile Innovation Grand Prix

Minister for Science, Technology & Innovation Conor Lenihan T.D., today (Thursday 19th November 2009) congratulated Irish mobile communications companies, Altobridge and Sentry Wireless, on winning the Mobile Innovation Grand Prix, Asia Pacific Tournament at the Mobile Asia Congress in Hong Kong this week.  Altobridge and Sentry Wireless are Enterprise Ireland high potential start ups.
 
Congratulating the companies Minister Lenihan said:
"Altobridge and Sentry Wireless have secured a highly prestigious international award which acknowledges their commitment to innovation.  This award is also a solid endorsement that the technologies that Sentry Wireless and Altobridge are developing are pioneering breakthroughs on the global mobile technologies' stage. 
 
"That two Irish companies won the overall award against strong international competition endorses Ireland's international reputation as the innovation island. Both of these companies are Enterprise Ireland high potential start-up companies and their achievement reflects positively on the Government's continuing investment in innovation, R&D and Ireland's Smart Economy blueprint."
 
Sentry Wireless, which provides mobile security solutions, won for its anti-SMS spam solution, SpamGuard, which uses Sentry Wireless' award-winning and patented technology to enable subscribers to identify and block SMS spam in 'one click' using a client on the SIM or handset. This is the only spam solution that is visible to the subscriber and demonstrates that the operator is taking proactive action against messaging abuse.
 
Matt Norton, Chief Executive Officer of Sentry Wireless, said:
"Winning this award acknowledges that SpamGuard is a game changing solution. It also shows our competitive strength as we set the pace in the $1bn messaging security market."
 
Altobridge, which provides cost-effective wireless solutions for mobile network operators (MNOs), won for its pioneering technology behind the company's Remote Community Solution.  The technology is aimed at MNOs in emerging markets and has been deployed successfully in commercial operations in Asia, with further deployments ongoing in Africa and Latin America. The deployments in Asia, (in Malaysia and Mongolia), have seen profitable cellular services reach small, remote communities where no viable delivery of mobile telephony services had previously been possible.  With support from Enterprise Ireland, Altobridge developed its satellite communications technology in partnerships with the European Space Agency, reflecting the highly innovative quality of the company's technology.
 
Mike Fitzgerald, Altobridge Chief Executive Officer, said:

"We are delighted our technology has been recognised by this latest award. Our Remote Community solution truly has the ability to change the lives of millions of people in remote regions, as well as local and national economies in the emerging markets in which it is being deployed."

ENDS
 
ABOUT THE MOBILE INNOVATION GRAND PRIX
The Mobile Innovation Grand Prix competition was created by the GSMA (Global System Mobile Association) to showcase promising entrepreneurs from small and medium-sized companies bringing innovative new products and services to market. During the APAC Tournament, presentations from five finalists were reviewed by a judging panel comprised of senior executives from mobile operators and venture capital firms. Altobridge and Sentry Wireless were announced as the two overall winners.

The award means that Sentry Wireless and Altobridge have won a trip to compete for the Global Mobile Innovation Grand Prix title and will be showcased at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February 2010.

For more information contact:
Ciara O'Mahony, Press Officer, Enterprise Ireland,
Tel: +353 (0) 1 727 2284
Mob: +353 (0) 87 2043435