MSC Malaysia ICON2 Continues Driving Malaysia’s Web and Mobile Application Development to Global Standards

69 world class apps are now visible in the global web and mobile app market

KUALA LUMPUR, MAY 14, 2012 – Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) today announced that the 2nd MSC Malaysia Integrated Content Development Programme (ICON2) has successfully introduced 69 apps to the Apple iTunes and Android App Store, which is anticipated to achieve RM 100,000 in revenue by the end of 2012.

As part of ICON2, The ICON Developer Assistance Programme (ICONdap) platform provided funding assistance to technical gurus, creative geniuses, as well as individuals and organisations with innovative ideas and concepts. The funding will enable them to turn those ideas into prototypes and actual products that work on various online and mobile platforms.Participants of ICONdap had until the end of 2011 to develop their best and most creative ideas into an easily marketable world-class product. Developers were given until the end of 2012 to complete their projects and introduce them successfully to the world market.

Once these ideas were approved and turned into actual apps, the products were matched with the relevant business specialists, angels and VCs to take their product to market.

“The ICON platform continues to play a key role in turning Malaysia into a content creator and animator. As a follow up to the resounding success of the inaugural ICON program in 2009-2010, ICON2 aims to bring the local content and application development in Malaysia to the next stage. Today ICON2 gives developers a broadened scope of apps to be developed, in any category that appeals to them. Furthermore, greater emphasis has also been given on the quality of the content and applications. This is in line with MSC Malaysia’s long-term strategy of honing local talents to create practical and creative solutions that appeal to the global market at large,” said Datuk Badlisham Ghazali, Chief Executive Officer of MDeC.

“ICON2 has widened the field in mobile application development, giving developers such as myself an avenue to create and market products for the global market. This leg up into the industry and global market will certainly help in putting Malaysia on the map in mobile developments,” says ARMS F&B (Restaurant POS) app creator, Tan Yin See. ARMS F&B (Restaurant POS) is a point of sale app system that is designed for restaurants. Currently, ARMS F&B (Restaurant POS) is the leading app from the ICON2 programme with 2,000 downloads which generated RM14, 750 in revenue.

Apart from tapping into the growing global demand for mobile applications, this programme contributes significantly to Malaysia’s transformation into a fully digital economy.

Since the launch of the first ICON initiative in 2009, 1,115 participants have been trained under the programme with 15 apps successfully submitted to the Apple iTunes and Android App Store and 99 Android app prototypes developed.

Some of the mobile applications that have been developed through the ICON2 programme to date include:

• NightMarkets – a comprehensive list of all the night markets (pasar malam) found all over Malaysia including their day and time.
• TryMasak - Malaysia’s biggest online cooking and food video app where you can watch cooking videos in a simple, ‘no-frills' and straight-forward way to help you prepare the recipes of your choice. These include simple and quick to prepare dishes to more meticulously prepared traditional recipes.
• Islands of Malaysia - A comprehensive guide covering over 20 stunning islands in Malaysia including a list of resorts and their prices, tourist attractions and outdoor activities.
• My First Iqra’ – An educational app for teaching children how to read the Quran in the well established Iqra’ method.
• Ah Long Attack – A fun tactical game with a Malaysian setting.

To find more details and other requirements, kindly visit www.mscmalaysia.my/ICON.