Push-To-Talk Technology Dials Up the Top Prize at AT&T Mobile Developer Contest - AT&T Fast-Pitch Also Selects IQ Engines Photo Labeling Application as the Winner in Consumer Category

Developers Win $10,000 Grand Prize, Exposure to Millions of Wireless Customers

Innovation ruled the show and the top prize in AT&T’s annual Fast-Pitch contest during Fall CTIA. Earning the grand prize in the business category was HipVoice with its revolutionary Push-To-Talk application that works across carriers and devices. The technology enables workers to communicate simply and seamlessly between the office and the field.

IQ Engines grabbed the top consumer prize with its application that recognizes and labels photos, then monetizes these images by matching them to relevant retailers and advertisers. Their image labeling engine™ is fast, accurate and scalable. Using a mobile phone’s camera, IQ Engine enables the user to point at any product to retrieve detailed information, reviews, prices, and purchase links. This application makes searching for product information effortless and fast.

HipVoice and IQ Engines were among the more than 200 mobile consumer and business software developers that participated in the Fast-Pitch Platinum Awards contest held at CTIA IT 2009 in San Diego. Each company earned a $10,000 prize in its category.

HipVoice, which recently had its application certified, will be featured online and in print versions of the AT&T Certified Solutions Catalog. On the consumer side, IQ Engines will have an opportunity to market its application through a range of AT&T’s consumer distribution opportunities.

The Fall Fast-Pitch Platinum Awards offers many companies, both big and small, the opportunity to compete. “To have an opportunity like this with a national carrier is very exciting,” said Darius Gandhi, VP of Business Development, HipVoice.

“Our technology comes from two years of research funded by the National Science Foundation. It is exciting to see our research in mobile visual search move to the market,” said Gerry Pesavento, CEO of IQ Engines.

The two runners-up in the business category were P.O.D. Verify’s PODPAD and iVisit’s SeeStar. The PODPAD solution uses wireless document imaging for field services and transportation by using a wireless phone and Verify’s patented scanner. This enables the user to scan documents in a vehicle or office and transmit them to his or her company instantly. iVisit’s SeeStar technology offers persons who are visually impaired a virtual "pair of eyes.” Live images are transmitted to a remote assistant who can view the images, describe the person’s surroundings, indicate the location of landmarks and pathways to destinations, or recognize objects and print media.

The two runners-up in the consumer contest were Micello and Evernote. Micello is an application that provides a unique indoor location-based service for mobile devices. Millions of people today use mobile maps to navigate to their destination. Micello goes one step further by extending a map inside locations, such as convention centers, shopping malls, college campuses, airports, and theme parks. With Evernote if you can see it or think of it, Evernote can help you remember it. Type a text note, clip a web page, and snap a photo or grab a screenshot, Evernote will keep it all safe. Everything captured is indexed and easily searchable.

Each of the runners-up received a $5,000 cash award.

Contestants were invited to present their applications to a panel of judges that determined which application would make the cut for potential placement on AT&T’s wireless network. The judges based their decisions on several factors, including innovation and originality of the application, market appeal, interface design, and number of platforms and handsets supported.

“The Fast-Pitch program is not only a great platform for these up-and-coming developers, it helps ensure that AT&T can continue to give its customers convenient access to some of the most innovative wireless applications out there,” said Carolyn Billings, executive director, developer marketing, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “We’re grateful to all of the participants in this year’s contest, and extend our congratulations to the winners.”

AT&T is the first major wireless carrier to create a developer relations program and now has more than 20,000 developers registered in its program. AT&T offers its customers all of the world’s major mobile operating systems, working with developers to create applications and content for BlackBerry®, iPhone, Java, Microsoft Windows Mobile, Palm OS and Symbian.

All of AT&T’s mobile applications operate on its GSM network, the world standard in mobile communications used by more than 88 percent of wireless users worldwide. GSM is inherently open, making it easy for developers and carriers to bring innovative applications to consumers.