ComputerWorld, January 8, 2001
Manila, Philippines. “Our projection is that by year 2005, half of the number of mobile phone users will be using mobile Internet,” said Ericsson Telecommunications, Inc. market development and communications director Mona Magno-Veluz. “That’s a very aggressive projection from the 1% now who’s using WAP,” she noted.
Ericsson, in line with its commitment to and experience in wireless technologies, and through its pro-active participation in industry initiatives such as Bluetooth, Symbian, WAP and GPRS Applications Alliance, is recognized as a leading developer of a new Internet-based applications delivered over mobile networks.
The Company is helping developers around the world by giving them tools to develop sites for mobile phones and terminals. In the country, Ericsson, aside from promoting its latest phone models in the market, will be launching an Internet development zone. “Developers will be free to come in and consult our experts and present their ideas,” Magno-Veluz said, “It’s going to be a free-for-all, get- your-tools zone.”
The company sponsored the Ericsson Mobile Internet Site of the Year in the 3rd Philippine Web Awards. A first time participant in this annual event, Ericsson saw the awards as an ideal venue for meeting and communicating with the “young Internet generation,” the expected users of the emerging mobile Internet technologies
”The Web Awards has been a respected institution in the Philippines, as well as in the US. Ericsson, as the global leader in the mobile Internet, believes that the Philippine Web Awards is an excellent venue for the recognition of talent and innovation in the development of the Internet in the country,” she said.
According to Magno-Veluz, the Ericsson mobile Internet in everyday life. “As esthetic design was not an important criterion, the judges screened the various sites nominated based on other points: technical design, content usefulness and ease in navigation, among others, she said.
That night, ClickTheCity (wap.clickthecity.com) went home with the special award sponsored by Ericsson.
”We chose ClickTheCity because of the usefulness of the information it contained. It was not just a bunch of links to other WAP sites. The search engine functioned well and the information was updated,” said Bulos.
Magno-Veluz added that ClickTheCity effectively used available technology to provide useful and practical information to the Filipino. “They were able to demystify mobile Internet by bringing their services to WAP user,” she said.
Nevertheless, Ericsson’s search for the outstanding mobile Internet site did not end there. “Next year (2001), with the expected launch of GPRS and other new wireless services, we also expect to see even more exciting location-based application,” Magno-Veluz said.
For ClickTheCity’s manager, Junnie Arreza, the special award was the result of the “winning formula of cutting-edge technology developed by the programmers, and the support and teamwork provided by the team members of ClickTheCity - from the Country Manager to the Information Coordinators.”
ClickTheCity.com serves as an online yellow pages and entertainment guide of the Philippines. “It offers users services for the Philippines. “ It offers users services and information such as guides to movies, TV shows, events, as well as advanced search listings for hotels, resorts, restaurants, shops and services,” Arreza said.
