TUANZ Innovation Awards

A glittering awards ceremony at the Langham Hotel in Auckland, in September, unveiled a flurry of deserving companies and individuals, honoured for their ability to drive innovation. The TUANZ Innovation Awards are run in association with Voco and in partnership with IDC, this year hosted by current affairs TV presenter John Campbell. Here is a selection of the winners.TUANZ Telecommunications Innovation Award sponsored by VectorFibreWinner: M-ComJudges’ comments: “M-Com is set to become the world leader in mobile banking and payment services. Their innovation and constant product evolution is changing the way people do banking. Their solutions, covering  standard banking, online banking, mobile proximity payment and mobile money transfer, have already been sold  to over 180 banks around the world. They have established a strong presence in developed markets and  are now poised to take on emerging markets. M-Com is a great example of an innovative New Zealand  company taking the world by storm.TUANZ Mobile Application of the Year Award sponsored by MotorolaWinner: Run the Red and KHF Media For: Run the Red and RedX Mobile Marketing PlatformJudges’ comments: “A highly interactive, multi-platform product. Significant export potential. With a high levelof telecommunication input.”TUANZ Healthcare AwardWinner: Gen-i, Alcatel Lucent, Auckland District Health Board For: Mobile TelehealthJudges’ comments: “Simplicity with wide implications for the population, reduces cost of care, benefittingthose with high medical needs. Clearly a worthy telecommunications application.”TUANZ Rural AwardWinner: Re:Gen by Harmonic and Gen-iJudges’ comments: “One of the judges more difficult decisions. A highly innovative product, providing traceability and sustainability. Avoids pasture saturation and maintains satisfactory pond levels and benefits the farmer by saving fertiliser.”TUANZ ICT Innovator of the Year Award sponsored by KellyWinner: Steve Fuller For: Open Access network for SchoolsJudges’ comments: “Steve Fuller deserved the award for his tireless efforts over a three-year period to deliver fibre to schools. This involved a keen understanding of the political situation, bringing the Ministry of Education on board, working with key individuals and gaining the support of the schools themselves, effectively changing the business model that can replicated elsewhere in NZ.”TUANZ Next Generation Fibre-Optic Network Award sponsored by Northpower FibreWinner: FX Networks For: The FX Next Generation NetworkJudges’ comments: “FX has done for national networks what Citylink did for metro networks. They have challenged old-world business models, breaking down old-world thinking and have shaken up the place. They have an innovative interaction with customers, wide market impact and a co-operative operation.”VOTED AWARDS (decided by TUANZ members):TUANZ Internet Service Provider of the Year Award sponsored by Telecom WholesaleWinner: SNAP InternetTUANZ Telecommunications Carrier of the Year Award sponsored by the Telecommunications Carriers’ ForumWinner: 2degrees MobileTUANZ Chairman’s Award, selected by TUANZ Chair Pat O’ConnellWinner: Chris Quin, Gen-i