The Johannesburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE) at Wits University has partnered with Gemalto, a global digital security company that was formed through the merging of Gemplus and Axalto, for the global unveiling of SIMagine 2007, a worldwide competition promoting new Java-based SIM applications.
"The launch not only introduced students and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to the type of applications that can run on SIM and smart cards, but also gave them an overview of the wireless market, with input from both a local and international cellular network," says JCSE CEO Rex van Olst.
The competition, which is in its eighth year, began at a two-day event last week.
Gemalto senior VP in SA Eric Meniere says the SIMagine competition is traditionally promoted in emerging markets to help stimulate the development of Java-based SIM applications in developing countries.
"During the first phase of the competition, concepts of possible Java-based SIM applications, which could be developed, are submitted by students and SMEs," he says.
An adjudication panel then decides on the top 60 concepts and each submission is given a Java SIM toolkit to turn the concept into an application, he says.
Meniere says the applications are then presented to the adjudication panel, which chooses eight finalists to present their applications at the 3GSM World Conference. From the eight finalists, gold, silver and bronze prizes, with money totalling 60 000 euros (about R550 000), are awarded, he says.
The closing date for the submission of concepts is 13 October. The developers who make it through to the next round will receive training in early November.
"If any South African applicants make it through, we will either provide a training session here in SA, or will organise for them to link up to the training session in Paris via the Internet," Meniere says.
The finalists will be flown to Barcelona in February 2007 for the 3GSM World Conference where the awards ceremony will be held.
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