UniMas Students nab RM30,000 top prize in the Mobile Content Challenge 2007
Kuala Lumpur, 24 October 2007 – Two software engineering students from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (“UniMas”) won the top prize of RM30,000, a chance to commercially release their winning mobile content application through Maxis Communications Berhad (“Maxis”) and another RM30,000 for their university, in the first national Mobile Content Challenge (“MCC 2007”).
The two undergraduate students, Maznizarahayu Bt. Rosle and Siti Khadijah Bt. Harman, who made up the winning team, FocusIT, developed a halal product verification system using Multimedia Messaging System (“MMS”) on mobile phones. The prototype application allows users with MMS-enabled phones to capture the barcode of a product, send the image to a halal product database and wait for the verification which will be sent via Short Messaging System (“SMS”).
“We are ecstatic with this win. This contest is a great platform for students to take the first step into mobile content development and we are thankful for the guidance we received from the mentors and judges. The next step for us is to explore further development of the product and to commercially launch the service with Maxis,” said Maznizarahayu.
MCC 2007 winning team, FocusIT, receivingtheir prize from the Deputy Minister of Energy, Water and Communications (Name list from left to right): 1. YBhg. Datuk Dr. HalimShafie, Chairman, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission 2. Y.B. Dato’Shaziman Abu Mansor,Deputy Minister, Ministry Energy, Water andCommunications 3. Maznizarahayu Bt. Rosle, FocusIT 4. YBhg. Tan Sri Dato’ Megat Zaharuddin Megat Mohd Nor, Maxis Chairman 5. Siti Khadijah Bt. Harman, FocusIT 6. Mr. Sandip Das, Maxis CEO
MCC 2007 is co-organised by Maxis with the Ministry of Energy, Water and Communications (“KTAK”) and the Malaysian Communications & Multimedia Commission (“SKMM”) to encourage young Malaysians to create imaginative and relevant mobile content as well as to promote growth in the local mobile content industry.
The Deputy Minister of Energy, Water and Communications, Y.B. Dato’ Shaziman Abu Mansor attended the prize giving ceremony, held on 22 October 2007 at Menara Maxis, where five finalists teams demonstrated their content creation during the final judging.
MCC 2007 winingteam, FocusIT, demonstrating their prototype.
The Deputy Minister of Energy, Water and Communications, Y.B. Dato’ Shaziman Abu Mansor attended the prize giving ceremony, held on 22 October 2007 at Menara Maxis, where five finalists teams demonstrated their content creation during the final judging.
At the event, Dato’ Shaziman stressed the importance of growth and opportunities in local content development industry as outlined in the Ninth Malaysia Plan. He added, “MCC 2007 is in line with the government’s direction in the content industry by incorporating the elements of constructive policies, effective capacity building and supportive incentive schemes available for young entrepreneurs in this area.” 
TheFocusIT team with their advisor (Johari Abdullah) and their prizes.
The Deputy Minister also praised the organisers for taking the initiative to bring mobile content development opportunities to students through this contest. “We’d like to commend Maxis for coming forward to give young people an opportunity to translate creative content ideas into reality,” he added.
SKMM Chairman Datuk Dr. Halim Shafie pointed out, “MCC 2007 supports SKMM’s strategy by helping develop entrepreneurs for the content industry. We hope the cash prize will be the seed fund for the winners to start up their business and becoming major players in the development of the content industry in Malaysia.”
Maxis Chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Megat Zaharuddin Megat Mohd Nor, congratulated the five finalists and emphasised the importance of useful content to mobile users globally.
“Each month, over 2.3 million of our customers actively access the Maxis WAP or 3G portal as a source for information and entertainment. We see mobile data service as a sizeable part of our business and have over the years supported the government’s call to grow this industry. Now, as Maxis expands regionally, we are in the right position to take Malaysian content developers into the regional and global markets,” added Tan Sri Dato’ Megat Zaharuddin.
Winners were judged based on four criteria - innovativeness, technical feasibility, user-friendliness and commercial value. Teams were also judged on their presentation skills and the ability to convince judges on the viability and marketability of their applications.
The contest also offered participants a unique inside track to the mobile industry through a mentoring programme by industry experts from the Maxis Developer Programme.
The Maxis Developer Programme is Maxis’ local mobile content industry advancement programme. Since its launch in 2003, the initiative has helped over 100 Malaysian mobile content developers conceptualise, develop and commercially roll out mobile content and applications in Malaysia as well as globally.
For more information about the programme, please visit http://mdp.maxis.com.my/.
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