Brisbane-based Barcode Products bases its philosophy on providing easy to use mobile and wireless solutions. Their winning GPRS solution allows customer Transpacific Industries to meet the Environmental Protection Agency's requirements for reporting on the collection of hazardous waste from restaurants. Drivers access a series of simple menus on their PDA screen and press the required buttons to record the relevant information. No paper, no pens and the information gets updated in real time directly into the reporting database. Barcode Products was also the successful future fantastic category winner for its unique environmental application.

Australia's leadership in environmental initiatives has long been recognized globally. Barcode's waste management product is being sought by councils around Australia and will soon be sold overseas.

Frances Lefroy, General Manager, Public Affairs, at Ericsson Australia recommends competitions as a way to drive awareness of mobile data services to both operators and the public. "The finalists, who all had a chance to give presentations to the judges, were delighted to be able to get access to operators at a senior level and said the publicity they had received had been very helpful." The judging panel consisted of representatives from Ericsson, Telstra, Vodafone and telecommunications industry group, ATUG.

About 60 developers entered the competition. Only those with market-ready mobile data applications were eligible to participate. Prizes were awarded for the best applications in three categories with one overall winner. The three categories were:

• Consumer applications  
• Business applications  
• Future fantastic applications

Frontier also recognized two additional leaders in separate categories of consumer applications and business applications. Microe was awarded the best business application and iTouch Australia received the best consumer application.

Australian company Microe developed eRep Wireless, a software application that uses GPRS or other wireless networks to transfer data to a central database. Sales staff input purchase orders on a handheld device such as a portable barcode scanner and the information is immediately transmitted back to head office. It eliminates the need for manual entry and allows management to keep track of daily sales.

iTouch Australia's successful iDeliver and iConnect application allows mobile delivery staff to be able to receive details of new jobs while on the road. Staff can access freight information, contact details and consignment notes. iDeliver enables customers to accurately track their consignment between pick-up and delivery points in real-time.

The three category winners received a pair of state-of-the-art Sony Ericsson T68i mobile handsets on which they can develop, test and demonstrate their technology. The category winners will also have access to the Associate Member level of Ericsson Mobility World where they will have access to loan terminals, joint publicity opportunities, venture capital consulting and technology workshops and networking opportunities. They will also have access to application testing and consulting services.

For those who want to get started, Lefroy offers these words of advice: "Make sure you have confidentiality agreements in place with the judges to protect the intellectual property of the developers. And make sure you have a dedicated IT adviser to help with online entry procedures as well."