Category 2: Best Mobile Services

2c) Best Mobile Money Service

Mobile is at the centre of another seismic shift in the way we live our lives and conduct business, one that is set to have a profound effect for users around the world.

A host of financial services are converging onto the mobile platform in a movement that began with micro-payments - fuelled by innovation and early adopter success with microcredits and micropayments – which is now gathering pace globally.

The development of domestic and international mobile money transfer services is well underway in parallel with retail payments, using mobile phones to pay for goods and services at point of sale, along with a host of 'cashless' mobile services such as ticketing, parking, bill payments and others that are being trialled and commercially introduced in many markets.

The opportunities for the financial service industry, in partnership with the mobile industry and an emerging eco-system are limitless, as are the benefits of convenience and value for consumers on every continent. Reflecting the advance of these innovative new services, the GSMA has created a brand new Global Mobile Award, Best Mobile Money Service, to recognise and reflect the emergence of this new sector – in all its varied forms.

The judges will shortlist five entries in this category, with one winner announced at the GSMA's Global Mobile Awards Gala Dinner at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on the evening of 17th February 2009.

Eligibility:

Entry is open to all players in the 'mobile money' eco-system as below, that are developing a wide range of financial services on the mobile platform. The GSMA recognises the early stage of development for many of these new services, and therefore welcomes entries that are applicable for commercially available services, as well as trials and pilots - providing services have been trialled with 1,000 or more users. Entry is open to:


  • Mobile Network Operators
  • Banking organisations
  • Credit/Debit Solutions Organisations
  • Retail and other Commercial Organisations
  • Financial Application Developers
  • Mobile Device and Point of Sale/Terminal Manufacturers
  • Entries that have been developed as a result of partnerships between Operators & financial institutions are welcomed as joint entries.

Judging criteria:

Entries can be submitted for products that are commercially available, in trial, soft launch or pilot phase (providing pilots exceed more than 1,000 users). Entries for the Best Mobile Money category will be judged on the following main criteria:


  • Entry provides a seamless, simple remittance or payment experience for users
  • The product or service is reliable, consistent and provides value to the user
  • The product or service entered is available in at least one, or several markets or regions
  • Judges will expect to see evidence of user take up or if in trial or pilot phase, evidence that the trial/pilot involves more than 1,000 users.
  • How unique is the product or service? For example, has the product or service ever previously been available to mobile users in this way before etc?
  • Judges will be looking for entries that demonstrate user interest and , as well as best practice in the areas of quality and regulation
  • Products or services that are backed by a simple and compelling user proposition
  • Products and services that can contribute to top line growth and economic development
  • Product or services can be readily adopted in to global open standards
  • Product or services have mass market appeal around the world

Entry Forms & formats:

In order to ensure a consistent approach for our judges, entries must be submitted using the Best Mobile Money Service entry form. Entries not using the web based entry form will not be considered.

All entries must be submitted by November 28th 2008 5pm (GMT). Entrants are encouraged to submit on-line supporting materials illustrating their specific product or service for example screen shots, video, marketing materials and other appropriate marketing collateral. These can be either a .jpeg (for pictures), .mpeg (for video).

Please also provide ONE website URL where specific information regarding your product or service can be found.

An additional upload facility will be provided via a link in your confirmation email once your entry has been submitted. You will have the ability to upload 3 additional files to accompany your entry up to a maximum file size of 10MB each.

Other formats will be considered upon request to upload@globalmobileawards.com

Specific Entry Form Questions:

On the entry form, in addition to submitting contact and company information, you will be asked to answer the following questions (maximum text/character length for your answers also shown in brackets below):


  • What is the brand name of your Mobile Money product or service? (i.e. the entry)
  • Is this a joint entry? If so. Who are the partnering organisations?
  • Please describe as simply as possible, the nature of the product or service and the user proposition i.e. how does the service work? E.g. Is it a Microcredit or Micropayments, Money Transfer or Retail Payment by Mobile based service or another form of money related mobile service. If the latter, please describe it as accurately as possible (1000 characters = approx 170 words)
  • Is your product or service commercially available in the market today? If so, which markets? When was the service launched, and how many active customers do you have today? (1000 characters = approx 170 words)
  • Is your product or service a trial or pilot? If so, how many users are involved in the pilot/trial, how long has it been running and when will it conclude? (1000 characters = approx 170 words)
  • What are the key, unique benefits for mobile users? How is it seamless, simple and reliable for users? (1000 characters = approx 170 words
    • )
  • Please describe what is unique, new or innovative about your product or service? How does it potentially drive growth or economic development? (1000 characters = approx 170 words)
  • Please give additional information to support your entry. For example, why is it good value for customers and, specifically, what evidence is there that a large user following has been established i.e. more than 1,000 users. If a trial/pilot that customers please provide evidence of user satisfaction of the product or services? (1000 characters = approx 170 words)
  • Please provide any other information that you feel necessary to support the strength of your entry? i.e. how does it conform to best regulatory practice, what quality of service measurements are in place, what international standards does it comply with? (1000 characters = approx 170 words)
  • What international mobile technology, payment standards or regulatory codes does it conform (or are planned for it to conform) to (1000 characters = approx 170 words)

Please note: Use URLs when they are specific/ relevant to the category and will help judges further understand your entry, but due to the number of entries received, judges will not have time to surf company websites looking for further information on the entered product/service or initiative.