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Manila, Philippines – Nokia recently held the first ever Nokia Mobile Entrepreneur Awards, an award developed to recognize local entrepreneurs who utilize mobile technology in their business. Working together with the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship, better known as Go Negosyo, the award aimed to encourage business-minded Filipinos to use mobile technology as their primary tool in their enterprise ventures.

“Mobile technology opens many doors for people," says William Hamilton-Whyte, General Manager, Nokia Philippines. "We hope that through this endeavor, many creative and enterprising Filipinos realize that the use of their mobile phone not only connects them to their loved ones but also connects them to a world filled with new opportunities and new possibilities in the field of business."

Go Negosyo Founding Trustee Joey Concepcion said "Go Negosyo is happy to be a partner in this project in line with our advocacy to promote an innovative entrepreneurial culture in the country. It is high time we encourage new business ideas or new ways of doing business to surface, to recognize the good ones and let them serve as inspiration for others."

The NMEA was open to all Filipino citizens with at least 18 years of age, who are entrepreneurs engaged in a thriving business for at least a year, have a business license to operate and utilizes Nokia products or services and other mobile services as its primary business, and were able to show increase in business and submitted audited reports for evaluation. The Grand Prize winner won P300,000 in cash while the 1st runner up received P150,000 in cash. Both winners also received a Nokia E51 mobile phone.

The award was based on the innovation employed and creativity in the use of mobile service in the business operations, the extent of the usage of mobile service in the business operations given the nature of the business, the impact of the usage of mobile service in the business revenues, and the quality of customer interaction and service. Participants to this search were entrepreneurs from all over the Philippines, some as far as Baguio, Davao, and Dipolog with businesses ranging from web applications, graphic design, and marketing services.

Nokia Mobile Entrepreneurs

Oliver Kuy emerged as the 1st runner up. Oliver's business, Kuydigital Design Consultancy, started as a contractual consultant for the past seven years and has officially registered the business last year. It was a one-man venture that provides excellent service in the area of design and marketing. It has grown into a company catering to the visual design needs of multinational companies, local corporations and even individuals. The company uses mobile service to create its total business package. With the whole world as its office, the company frequently depends on mobile services (WorldMate, eBuddy messenger, Mobile Gmail-Java, Nokia Mobile Softwares, GPS/GPRS, Bluetooth, Wifi, and Infrared).

The Grand prize was awarded to Alvin Kingson Y. Tan of Technominds, Inc. Established by young professionals from the IT and business fields, Technominds, Inc. is a provider of SMS solutions, database management, and web applications. The company specializes in mobile technology-based solutions and computer applications. Technominds, Inc. first ventured into universal loading

Mobile technology has allowed Kuydigital to serve its clients on a 24/7 time frame because the company believes that creativity has no time limits and boundaries. They constantly interact with their clients through several means. They encourage them to be available online through various ways. This kind of setup encourages communication and freedom to express ideas and thoughts anytime, anywhere.

About the Nokia Mobile Entrepreneur Award

The award was launched last February 29, 2008. The Nokia Mobile Entrepreneur Award has been developed to recognize small entrepreneurs who utilize mobile technology in their business. The award reinforces Nokia's commitment to promote community development and corporate social responsibility which is a fundamental part of its business and brand.

About Nokia

Nokia is the world leader in mobility, driving the transformation and growth of the converging Internet and communications industries. Nokia makes a wide range of mobile devices and provides people with experiences in music, navigation, video, television, imaging, games and business mobility through these devices. Nokia also provides equipment, solutions and services for communications networks.

About Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship

The Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE) is a non-stock and non-profit organization that aims to make the Philippines a thriving entrepreneurial nation. It aims to instill among Filipinos a mindset of optimism and a culture of entrepreneurship, turning them into competitive entre- and intra-preneurs.

Media Enquiries:

Nokia Philippines

Nikka Abes

Tel. + 0917 859 0783

Email: nikka.abes@nokia.com

Bridges PR

Alexei Villaraza

Tel. +0917 539 7028

Email: alexeivillaraza@bridgespr.net

www.nokia.com