Innovative ideas and mobile apps celebrated DiGi?s Challenge for Change 5 finale

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June 23, 2014
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https://digi.com.my/media/articleURLhereWhichCanbeReallyLong

Innovative ideas and mobile apps celebrated DiGi's Challenge for Change 5 finale

  • "Tag A Price" wins DiGi's Innovation Award
  • "Banjir Alerts" to represent Malaysia at Telenor's Digital Winners Global App Developer Challenge in Norway


PETALING JAYA, 24 June 2014 - DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd (DiGi)'s fifth edition of its annual Challenge for Change (DiGiCFC) programme concluded today, with the announcement of the winners for the best mobile applications (apps).

DiGi Challenge for Change is a competition to unearth innovative, community-centric ideas that are then developed into mobile applications. This year more than 2,500 ideas were received in the ideation phase. The five (5) winning ideas became the basis of the 56 full-fledged mobile apps submitted across the five categories in the app development phase. Over RM200,000 in prizes were awarded to the winning application developers and ideators.

Speaking at the event, DiGi's Chief Operating Officer Albern Murty applauded the participants for their creativity and innovativeness in coming up with mobile apps that have fulfilled the criteria outlined by the original ideas, and bring communities together. "Together with our partners, we are pleased to have the opportunity to work with local developer community to build mobile apps that have real potential for commercialisation, adoption while addressing the social needs of Malaysians.

"The maturity of the ideas presented and the mobile apps developed shows that more Malaysians recognise the power of connectivity and mobile apps in driving social innovations across communities. This underscores our vision for Challenge for Change, and takes us a step closer in our effort to deliver Internet For All by helping Malaysians find new and meaningful ways to experience internet and benefit from it," added Albern

The winning developer/teams in their respective categories are:

Category

Winning Apps

Learning & Edutainment
(1Auto)

Carkis
by Boon Gee Wai

Discovering Culture
(Jalan Jalan)

Mini Malaysia
by Calvin Tam

Connected Citizens
(Tag A Price)

SmartShopper
by Tan Yin See

DiGizens' Choice
(My Banjir)

Banjir Alerts
by Barry Loh


The winners received RM25,000 in cash each and DiGi's continuous support to actively promote the winning applications to its own base of more than 4 million internet customers, as well as on DiGi's online app stores, retail outlets and over its social media properties. On top of that, all four winners also get to participate in MDEC's MSC Start-Up Accelerator Lite programme, including the Green Lane for the top developer/team, allowing them to enhance their mobile apps into a start-up complete with a mentor, funds and market opportunities. Tan Yin See and Barry Loh were also announced as the winners for top Android and Windows app developers respectively and get to experience 3-day stint in Google Malaysia and Microsoft Malaysia

The DiGi's Innovation Award was presented to Alex Wong Kek Liang, 27 from Melaka, for the best overall idea. Wong's idea Tag A Price was aimed to enable consumers to contribute and compare grocery prices across selected shopping outlets and locations, and best represented the Challenge for Change mission of connecting communities through the power of mobile internet. He has also worked closely with the participating developers by sharing clear information on his idea during the app development phase. For this award, Wong won RM25,000 in cash.

Banjir Alerts was also selected as Telenor Group Award for the best overall mobile app winner. The developer will represent Malaysia at Telenor's Digital Winners Global App Developer Challenge, and be in line to potentially win a cash grant of €25,000 (RM112,000) to build their business, work closely with Telenor Digital as a commercial partner, and have access to a global customer base through Telenor Group.

DiGiCFC programme partners include the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), the National Digital Economy Initiative (Digital Malaysia), Google Malaysia, Microsoft Malaysia, 1Malaysia for Youth (iM4U), and the Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU).

For more information on the DiGi Challenge for Change 5, please visit www.digicfc.my