Qwikker, which provides user-driven, on-location mobile content distribution, has been short-listed in the GSM Associations Best Mobile Advertising category for its work with Virgin Mobile. Qwikker has been selected as a finalist for its unique method of distributing mobile content, which enabled Virgin Mobile to get their brand onto the handsets of other carriers. Other nominees are Cingular Wireless for its campaign for American Idol; Sheba Telecom for its Making a Difference campaign; R/GA for Nike Basketball Mobile; and Fox Mobile Entertainment for the Toyota-sponsored Prison Break: Proof of Innocence mobile spin-off.
For its campaign, Virgin Mobile called on Qwikker to assist with the launch of its boredom-busting Virgin BITES service – a mobile site dedicated to keeping Virgin Mobile customers entertained. As part of the promotion, Virgin Mobile wanted to reach beyond its own subscriber base, while at the same time promoting acts which were performing at the Virgin Mobile V-Festival, through the distribution of desirable, high-quality mobile content via a fast, reliable and user-friendly platform.
Qwikkers service enabled consumers to download the non-intrusive, branded Virgin Bites mobile channel via Bluetooth, and browse and select music-related mobile content which was relevant to them. Critically, the Virgin content channel remains on the consumers handset, which is updateable over-the-air, further extending the brand relationship.
“Our technique of mobile content distribution is unique in that it is not carrier based – it uses Bluetooth for direct delivery to subscribers of any carrier with any phone” says Qwikker CTO and Founder, Saul Kato. Being short-listed for such a prestigious award is an indication that this cross-carrier method is being embraced by the industry as an important piece of the ecosystem.
The GSM Associations Global Mobile awards will be presented at 3GSM 2007, Barcelona on 13 February. You can see a full list of all the shortlisted companies in each category here.
The Qwikker the Better. Read. 
