MAC 07: GSMA Announces Award Winners

At the recent GSMA Mobile Asia Congress in Macau, the global trade association for mobile operators announced the winners of the Asia Mobile Awards 2007, as well as the category winners and the overall winner of the Asia Mobile Innovation Awards.

Hosted by Taiwanese actor, VJ and TV star, David Wu, the ceremony took place at the new Venetian Hotel in Macau. Artists like Craig David and Taiwanese 'pop princess' Elva also performed during the show.

"We're delighted with this year's Asian Mobile Awards – they recognize the sheer pace of progress that's been made right across the region's mobile communication market. Our congratulations to the winners and nominees and our thanks to everyone who participated," said Rob Conway, CEO of the GSM Association.

The winners of the Asia Mobile Awards 2007 are:

Best Mobile Game
Gameloft - Real Football 2007

Best Mobile Music Service
PCCW Mobile HK - MOOV on Mobile

Best Mobile Advertising
Zad Mobile/Smart Communications/Pepsi - 1-IN-5 Panalo Summer Promotion

Best Mobile Social Networking Service
BuzzCity - myGamma

Best Mobile Broadband Handset / Device
- Motorola - MOTORAZR2 V9
- Highly Commended - LG Electronics for Shine

The overall Mobile Innovation Award winner was also announced at the industry Awards Gala Party held at the Venetian Hotel last night.

The four category winners for the Asia Mobile Innovation awards are:

Most Innovative Wireless Device-centric Technology
Telegent Systems, USA

Most Innovative Carrier Infrastructure or Platform
3ple-Media, Netherlands

Most Innovative Mobile Application in a Vertical Market
Integra Micro Systems, India

Most Innovative Consumer Application or Service
Consilient Technologies Corporation, Canada

And the overall winner for the Asia Mobile Innovation Awards is:
Consilient Technologies Corporation, Canada

The GSMA Mobile Asia Congress ends today.

LG.Philips Develops Dirt-Resistant LCD Panels

Tired of irritating smudges, dust and fingerprints on laptop computer screens? LG.Philips LCD Co., the world's second-largest manufacturer of liquid crystal displays, has developed a dirt-resistant easy-to-clean panel for notebook computers.

"Our new panel employs a principle similar to that used on non-stick frying pans," Ahn Byung-chul, who leads development of advanced technology at the company, said in a statement. "Dirt and oil can easily be wiped away."

TFT-LCD panels usually feature a coating on the surface of the polarizer film, designed to reduce glare and reflections. Because of their chemical properties, some of these coatings have a tendency to hold on to dirt and oil. A computer user’s fingers are a ready source of both, and people touch the hinged screens on notebook computers quite often in order to adjust them.

Generally, to make LCD panels dirt-resistant, manufacturers must add a second coating to the polarizer film in addition to the glare-reduction coating. This is a time-consuming process that adds to overheads. LG.Philips LCD has found a way to eliminate this additional step.

"Fingerprints have always been an especially big annoyance and if they're not cleaned immediately become even harder to remove from the screen. That's why we developed this new technology,” Ahn added.

The South Korean company said the panel, which even facilitates the removal of ink, would go into production in the first half of 2008. The technology will be first applied to its 15.4-inch widescreen panels for notebook computers, and later for notebook panels of all sizes by the end of next year.