Amman, 21 May 2011 - Nokia announced Jaffa.Net Software and Communications as the winner of its first Levant Developers competition which was launched in 2010 during the Levant Developers' forum in Beirut. Participants were asked to create an application, a piece of content, or a Web Runtime widget for the new Nokia N8. As a result, Palestine-based leading software development house, Jaffa.Net, won the competition for their WhereRU application.

The competition challenged Levant mobile and web application developers to submit locally relevant applications for the new Nokia N8, which allows people to create compelling content, connect to their favorite social networks and enjoy on-demand Web TV programs and Ovi Store apps. The first place winner of the competition was granted 15,000 USD for the efforts and achievement that were put into the challenge.

"We at Nokia have always emphasized on the significance of developers in the Levant region and allocated an immense importance to their community. We are very proud and overwhelmed to see such great and impressive talents that could play a major role in further developing interesting applications, as a result Nokia is honored to organize such competitions and act as a catalyst in encouraging the rising talents, " commented Prem Chand, General Manager of Nokia Levant.

The WhereRU application which was developed by Jaffa.Net allows the N8 user to ping another user's mobile device which triggers the other user's mobile to respond with its GPS location.  The application can be used in a parent/child case, where with WhereRU, no need for a call, a parent can ping the mobile of his child and become aware of his/her location immediately. 

"We worked on the WhereRU application closely with Nokia team and we are very pleased with the support we have received from the Nokia technical and Ovi team.  We at Jaffa.Net will continue developing other application using the Nokia environment and dominance of the mobile handset, which opens a wide market for us at Jaffa.Net.  In addition, the Ovi store provides an international reach for us so our applications can be used all over the world. Today, WhereRU downloads from Ovi store exceeded our expectation, thanks to its international reach," explained Yahya Al-Salqan, Jaffa.Net CEO.

The winning application, WhereRU comes with a white listed numbers that are allowed to ping the mobile, in addition, to an m-Tracking option whereby the mobile sends its GPS location every pre-determined period.  So a company can receive the GPS location of its salesperson every specific time frame.  WhereRU is a very simple application for GSM operators, parents, businesses, and tourists.

-Ends-

About Nokia
At Nokia, we are committed to connecting people. We combine advanced technology with personalized services that enable people to stay close to what matters to them. Every day, more than 1.3 billion people connect to one another with a Nokia device - from mobile phones to advanced smartphones and high-performance mobile computers. Today, Nokia is integrating its devices with innovative services through Ovi (www.ovi.com), including music, maps, apps, email and more. Nokia's NAVTEQ is a leader in comprehensive digital mapping and navigation services, while Nokia Siemens Networks provides equipment, services and solutions for communications networks globally.

This news release has been distributed by Bidaya Corporate Communications on behalf of Nokia.

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