Deadline Extended and New Categories Added for BIG Idea Contest and E-Tech Awards!

Due to the large number of great products, apps and ideas submitted for the Emerging Technology Awards and the BIG Idea Contest, we extended the submission deadline to March 12 at 11 p.m. PDT! In addition, we’ve added two new categories for the Emerging Technology Awards.

If you haven’t already, submit your wireless product, service or great idea for a chance to be prominently featured on stage and in a special showcase at International CTIA WIRELESS® 2012!

The BIG Idea Contest

In its second year, CTIA’s BIG Idea Contest recognizes ideas, visions and concepts for wireless products, applications and services that demonstrate the transformative power of wireless. Online peer voting will reward the top five submissions, focused on changing the way we live, work and play, with time to share their big ideas on stage at the show.

Designed to highlight the most innovative use of wireless technology, last year’s program attracted more than 40 applicants. In mid-March, all BIG Idea submissions will be posted to a public site to allow wireless and telecommunications industry professionals to vote and determine the top five finalists—representing this year’s best and brightest entrepreneurial minds. The finalists will be announced in mid-April, and three winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Tuesday, May 8 at International CTIA WIRELESS.

Eligibility Guidelines: A non-refundable application fee of $500 applies to the first submission, and $375 for each additional submission. Neither CTIA membership nor exhibitor status is required for entry. Full entry information may be found here.

Emerging Technology Awards

We’ve added two new categories to the E-Tech Awards program, which honors the industry’s most innovative new wireless products and services in the areas of mobile apps, consumer electronics, enterprise and vertical markets and network infrastructure.

The two new categories are:

• Enterprise & Vertical Market Solution: Transportation & Fleet: Products, services and solutions that facilitate fleet safety management, accident management, vehicle tracking, etc.
• Mobile Applications: Automotive, Safe Driving & Transportation: Encourages safe driving habits, enhances and enables the in-vehicle experience, traffic alerts, parking etc.

Products in each category are judged on innovation, functionality, technological importance, implementation and overall “wow” factor. Finalists will be announced in mid-April, and winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 9. Many award submissions will be showcased in Booth 4575 at the Emerging Technology Zone on the tradeshow floor. Click here to enter and view program guidelines.

This year’s 15 CTIA E-Tech Awards entry categories are:

Mobile Applications – apps marketed and sold to consumers in the areas of:

1. Health, Wellness & Fitness
2. Mobile Commerce, Shopping & Rewards
3. Productivity & Utility & Public Safety
4. Social/Content/Media/Entertainment
5. Automotive, Safe Driving & Transportation (NEW!)

Mobile Consumer Electronics – wireless-enabled devices for these categories:

6. Accessories
7. Smartphones/Handsets
8. Tablets/Netbooks/Embedded Wireless Devices

Enterprise & Vertical Market – any products, services, software, applications, hardware or infrastructure used to enable or deploy wireless technology in these enterprise and vertical markets:

9. General Business
10. Healthcare & Wellness
11. Mobile Marketing or Advertising
12. Green Telecom & Smart Energy Solutions, Applications and Hardware
13. Transportation & Fleet (NEW!)

Infrastructure – products, equipment and services used in the deployment of a wireless network for:

14. In-Building Wireless/Wi-Fi/LAN
15. Wide Area Network

Show participants and industry peers will have the opportunity to pick the two “fan favorite” awards. Beginning in mid-April, website visitors may vote for the “Best Online Pick”. Show attendees will also have the chance to vote on-site via text message for entries in the E-Tech Awards display to win “Best in Show.”

Eligibility Guidelines: All entries must have a release date of October 2011 or later. New releases, prototypes and upgrades demonstrating significant changes or added features are welcome. A $375 non-refundable submission fee applies to the first product, and a $275 submission fee applies to each additional product. Neither CTIA membership nor exhibitor status is required for entry. Full category descriptions and entry information may be found here.