3 local firms close to Qualcomm grants

Three Indian companies have reached the finals of Qualcomm's Brew Applications Funding Programme, under which five grants totalling $5,00,000 will be provided for the most innovative proposal. This is part of the CDMA technology major's wireless reach initiative to help increase the availability of wireless applications in across the world.

The company has selected 21 developers from 19 organisations across six countries, of which three are Indian companies. Agrocom Software Technologies along with IIT Bombay, Astute Systems Technology, TCS and ZMQ Software Systems, are the Indian companies on the list.

TCS has been selected twice under the programme, based on the proposals provided by different individuals representing the company. The 21 finalists have been asked to submit an indepth proposal by December 31, 2006. From these proposals, Qualcommm will announce the recipients of the five individual grants by mid-February 2007, Qualcomm said in a release here today.

According to Qualcomm CEO Paul E. Jacobs, "We are committed to helping increase the availability of useful Brew applications worldwide and we are pleased to note that the applications we received are creative, inspiring and show a true consideration for the challenges that undeserved communities face today. Our goal is to have Wireless Reach BREW applications from one or more of the grant recipients in action by the summer of 2007."

The Wireless Reach initiative seeks to connect communities that have limited or no telecommunications access through the use of 3G technologies. The objective of this initiative is to strengthen economic and social development with a focus on education, governance, healthcare and public safety.

Wireless Reach creates sustainable 3G projects through partnerships with non-governmental organisations, universities, government institutions, development agencies and other private sector companies. Qualcomm is a developer of services based on CDMA and other advanced technologies.