Meffys winners showcase vibrant mobile entertainment industry

MEF last night unveiled the winners of this year’s coveted Meffys awards at a sold out gala dinner in London. The Meffys, in association with Nokia for the third year running, were hosted by Hardeep Singh Kohli, who captivated the audience with his quick wit and passion for mobile.

The winning entries of the sixth annual awards once again provided a snapshot of the range of products, services, apps and projects, from the newly launched to the tried and tested, which are driving the mobile entertainment industry forward.

This year’s winners, representing America, Britain, Denmark, Finland, India, Norway, Russia and Turkey, underlined the Meffys as the global benchmark for recognising success and innovation.

A new award for Business Intelligence highlighted the industry’s growing focus on building definitive metrics and analytics, key to sustaining investment and building on its long-term success.

Rimma Perelmuter, MEF Executive Director said: “In these times of economic uncertainty, MEF is proud to celebrate a $32 billion industry whose relevance and focus continues to inspire innovation and growth. The 2009 Meffys winners are a testament to the industry’s robustness and the central role that mobile is playing in engaging and entertaining consumers around the world.”

Meffys 2009 Winners

Games
Gameloft - ‘Real Football 2009’

Music Service

24-7 Entertainment -‘TDC Play’

TV & Video Service

BBC - ‘BBC iPlayer on Mobile’

Content
20:20 London - ‘Thmbnls Interactive Mobile Drama’

Social Networking

Handmade Mobile Entertainment - ‘Flirtomatic’

Search & Discovery
MTS - ‘MTS Super Search’

Ad Campaign

TURKCELL - ‘Tone&Win’

D2C Service

GetJar - ‘GetJar’

Application

Opera Software - ‘Opera Mini 4.2’

Technology Innovation

Nokia - ‘Ovi Store’

‘Mobile First’ Innovation

Hungama Digital Media -‘Tata Sky’

Business Intelligence

comScore & the GSMA in partnership with all UK operators - ‘GSMA Proof of Concept’

Innovative Business Model

Orange - ‘Dolphin Pay-As-You-Go Package’

Quality of Experience

Dolby Laboratories - ‘Dolby Mobile’

Handset

INQ Mobile - ‘INQ¹ - The World’s First Social Mobile’

Meffys Awards entry deadline extended to 24th April due to popular demand

Due to popular demand, the call for entries for the sixth international Meffys Mobile Entertainment Awards has been extended to Friday 24th April 2009. Companies wishing to enter should visit: www.m-e-f.org.

MEF is also pleased to announce that Hardeep Singh Kohli, a leading social commentator, BBC presenter and comedian, will host the Meffys ceremony on 23 June in London. As a columnist for The Scotsman and The Guardian, and a great fan of mobile games, Hardeep is passionate about the increasingly important role that mobile entertainment is playing in our everyday lives.

“I am delighted to be hosting this year’s Meffys awards to help celebrate the leading companies in an industry where creativity and cutting-edge technology collide," said Hardeep Singh Kohli.

Rimma Perelmuter, MEF Executive Director, added: “With Hardeep’s participation, and our move back to London, the stage is now set for the most exciting Meffys ceremony yet. Judged by influential press & analysts and recognised as the industry’s most coveted prizes, the Meffys will once again provide a fantastic platform for innovators and more established players to spotlight their milestones and gain the acclaim they deserve.’

Entering the Meffys 2009

MEF is accepting entries for the 2009 Meffys awards until 24 April. Entry costs have been frozen from last year and are as follows: £100 per entry for MEF members, £200 for members of supporting organisations and £300 for non-members.

For more details and information on entry categories go to: http://www.m-e-f.org/index.php?id=44

“Winning a Meffy was a real turning point for Flirtomatic.....we had previously been told we were the best kept secret in mobile, but the Meffy got us a heap more visibility. And given the strength of the competition, we still feel lucky to have won it.”
Mark Curtis, CEO, Flirtomatic

“Winning the Mobile Entertainment Forum’s Meffy Award for "Off Deck Services" was a coup for Thumbplay. At their core, the Meffy Awards recognize a commitment to innovation; this is the cornerstone of what Thumbplay customers have come to expect from our service. We were deeply honored by the recognition and are proud to list it among our accomplishments."
Susan Lietz, VP Corporate Communications, Thumbplay

"Winning the MEFFY 2008 award for Creatures of the Deep was one of the highlights of my career. Proving that a fishing game could be fun, and then being recognized for it with such a prestigious award is something I can look back on for many years."
Mike Smith, Nokia N-Gage Producer