Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka

Ringing out Mahinda Chintana “Vision for the Future”

The South Asian mobile content conference and workshop  will contribute immensely to Sri Lanka becoming the knowledge hub envisaged in the Mahinda Chintana “Vision for the Future” says ICT Agency of Sri Lanka  (ICTA) COO Reshan Dewapura.  The ICTA Chief Operating Officer said so while participating at a media briefing held in Colombo recently.

Addressing the  media briefing organised by ICTA at Hotel Taj Samudra  Dewapura emphasised the importance of the conference and the workshop: “The South Asian Mobile Content Conference and Workshop that will be held in Colombo on 10th and 11th instant will go a long way in making the benefits of ICT reach all, especially the disadvantaged  in South Asia. ICT has a significant role in taking the development  drive forward, promoting  economic growth,  generating employment, and thus  making Sri Lanka and other South Asian countries be on a par with the ‘developed’ world.  During the past five to 10 years the mobile sector  has developed fast and the different segments in society, whether in the Government or private sector, cannot, on their own, properly meet the  growing needs of accessing information, electronic transactions etc. The ICTA, the Digital Empowerment Foundation  of India, the Ministry of ITC, the Government of India, hSenid Mobile (Pvt.) Ltd. and Etisalat Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd. have joined together to facilitate the Mobile Content development in South Asia.”

Referring to the mBillionth 2010 award jury process that will take place on 11th and 12th instant, ICTA COO said that the current rate of mobile penetration in the region was astounding.  With the current  Indian, Bangladesh and Sri Lankan mobile users being at  the 700th, 57th and 14th million  mark,  South Asia is sure to hit the billionth mark by the end of 2010, Dewapura said. ”Technology savy participants are able to participate in the competition aimed at rich Mobile Content projects under 10 core categories. The awards will be presented in July or early August in India. This will provide an excellent opportunity for the mBillionth award participants  to move forward to take part  in the World Summit Award as well”, Dewapura encouraged.

About 25 high-level speakers around the world will share their views and strategic considerations at this first South Asian event on the fast developing subject of mobile content.  The topics dealt with will include Mobile Content Market Trends and Development, Mobile Applications, Enabling Rich Content to Mobile Consumers, Mobile Content Marketing and Revenue Modules in the Mobile Applications.

The Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA), which functions under the Presidential Secretariat, will  host this first-ever South Asian Mobile Content Conference and workshop with Etisalat,  a leading  mobile Company in Sri Lanka and hSenid Mobile Private Ltd., a world famous Sri  Lankan Software Company, as strategic partners.
 
Currently most of the highly penetrated value added services are offered on mobile applications. However, the services such as forex information, breaking news alerts to cricket updates are limited as these are developed by a few. Yet the opportunities for mobile applications are immense starting from very simple applications to complex ones. It is high time that application development is  promoted by opening the door to anyone who is interested in this sphere.

It is in the backdrop of this development  Etisalat and hSenid Mobile are joining hands to power the first Mobile Application Developer Portal in Sri Lanka.

"With this intention we have come forward as the strategic partner for the region’s very first conference on mobile content and applications. This we consider as an ideal platform to promote mobile application development for the first time in Sri Lanka, to all those who are interested, an area which was limited to a few professionals before. By ‘all’ we mean University students, free lance developers, professionals, software development companies", Said Dumindra Ratnayaka, CEO Etisalat Sri Lanka.

We will promote healthy and positive developed applications and provide attractive revenue shares – 70% -  to the developer. Successful developers can also make a name for themselves nationally by hosting popular applications. We, at Etisalat, hope to revolutionise the local market by this platform, opening application development to everybody, which will help take Sri Lanka to the global mobile application development stage”, Dumindra Ratnayaka added.

"To facilitate this, hSenid Mobile together with Etisalat, will launch a Mobile Application Development Platform where anyone can download the required tools to develop mobile applications. The Platform will provide seamless application development facilities to all interested" said Dinesh Saparamadu, CEO of hSenid Mobile

Expressing a view that is sure to be a source of encouragement many the hSenid Mobile CEO said: “Much knowledge is not necessary for becoming a valuable mobile content developer. What is vital is interest. The next killer application could come from someone who is working on mobile content development at night or weekend.”

Caption:-
From left: ICTA eSociety Senior Programme Head Chitranganie Mubarak, ICTA Chief Operating Officer Reshan Dewapura, Etisalat Sri Lanka CEO Dumindra Ratnayake and SLASSCOM Chairman and hSenid Mobile CEO Dinesh Saparamadu
 

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