Truphone Selected by the World Economic Forum as Technology Pioneer
2007
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM -- (MARKET WIRE) -- December 03, 2006 --
Mobile communications company Truphone has been selected by the World
Economic Forum as one of 47 Technology Pioneers for 2007, of which
six are from the UK.
The World Economic Forum's Technology Pioneers are companies that
have been identified as 'developing and applying highly
transformational and innovative technologies in the areas of energy,
biotechnology & health, and information technology'. This year's
companies were selected not only because of their cutting-edge work,
but also because their work has potential long-term impact on
business and society. Previous Technology Pioneers include Autonomy,
Cambridge Silicon Radio, Encore Software, Google, Millennium
Pharmaceuticals and Napster.
Truphone has developed technology based on open source (free)
software that means internet-connected Wi-Fi networks instantly
become part of a global phone network: free, downloadable software
then enables the latest Wi-Fi-equipped cellular phones to make
internet-rate phone calls (VoIP calls) from Wi-Fi hotspots anywhere.
Truphone's technology heralds not only greatly reduced mobile
telephony costs for individual consumers, but also opens up the
possibility of deploying new, low-cost mobile networks in emerging
economies.
Alexander Straub, co-founder and director of strategy, said:
"Truphone brings seamless low-cost internet calling to your existing
mobile and address book at the individual level, but it also
facilitates a technology jump at a macro level in the developing
world: emerging markets can build mobile telephony networks with low
cost wireless internet zones instead of making the massive investment
needed to develop full carrier networks."
Peter Torreele, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, said:
"The competition to become a Technology Pioneer has been more intense
than ever. It is evident that technology and innovation is playing a
key role in the shifting power equation at a global level. Driving
this shift is the tremendous amount of innovation taking place
outside of traditional hubs. The wide geographic spread of this
year's Technology Pioneers is a testament to this trend. We are
pleased to welcome these exciting companies to our Community of
Technology Pioneers, and look forward to engaging these industry
leaders of the future into the community of the World Economic
Forum."
To be selected as a Technology Pioneer, a company must be involved in
the development of life-changing technology innovation and have the
potential for long-term impact on business and society. In addition,
it must demonstrate visionary leadership, show all the signs of being
a long-standing market leader - and its technology must be proven.
This year's Pioneers were nominated by the world's leading venture
capital and technology companies, with the final selection from 225
nominees made by a panel of leading technology experts appointed by
the World Economic Forum. Technology Pioneers 2007 are invited to
attend the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum to be held in
Davos, Switzerland from 24-28 January 2007.
The companies' products include microscopic pill cameras, bio sensors
that localize landmines, implantable medical devices for the
treatment of brain tumours, mobile television service, blog search
engines, open source web browsers, video headsets, thin-film diamond
coatings, solar air-conditioner equipment, paper batteries for
music-playing greeting cards, and even an automatic and compacting
trash bin powered by solar energy.
Over half (27) of the Technology Pioneers 2007 are US-based
companies, with 13 located in California. The United Kingdom boasts
six Technology Pioneers 2007; the Netherlands, India, Israel and
Singapore boast two each; Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden
and Switzerland have one each.
Notes to editors
Go to
http://www.weforum.org/en/about/Technology%20Pioneers/Nominations/index.htm
for details of selection criteria.
Go to http://www.weforum.org/techpioneers/2007 for the entire list of
Technology Pioneers and interviews with the CEOs of the selected
companies. Download print-quality high resolution photographs at:
www.pbase.com/forumweb/techpioneers2007
For more specific information, please e-mail:
tech.pioneers@weforum.org.
About the World Economic Forum: The World Economic Forum
(http://www.weforum.org), based in Geneva, Switzerland, is an
independent organization committed to improving the state of the
world. Funded by the contributions of 1,000 of the world's foremost
corporations, the Forum acts in the spirit of entrepreneurship in the
global public interest to further economic growth and social
progress. The Forum serves its members and society by creating
partnerships between and among business, political, intellectual and
other leaders of society to define, discuss and advance key issues on
the global agenda. Incorporated in 1971 as a foundation, the World
Economic Forum is impartial and not-for-profit, and is tied to no
political, partisan or national interests. In 1995 the Forum was
awarded NGO consultative status with the Economic and Social Council
of the United Nations.
About Software Cellular Network: Truphone is the trading name of
Software Cellular Network Limited (SCN), a privately-owned UK
technology company, founded in 2000 and funded by a mixture of
private investment and venture capital. Today, Truphone is pioneering
an all-SIP solution that enables mass market mobile phone handsets to
make free and very low-cost calls using VoIP over wireless LAN.
Truphone's founders, investors, advisers and staff are dedicated to
the development of mobile internet telephony in the cause of freedom
and choice for mobile phone users. The company is also closely
involved with the open source community and is developing Truphone in
accordance with internationally-recognised open standards. The
company has development teams and partners in locations across
Finland, Romania, USA and the UK.
Contacts:
Both Barrels Communications Ltd.
Tim Donnelly Smith
Media contact (for Truphone)
+44 7624 000275 (Truphone)
Email: timds@bbcomms.co.uk
