TCS wins the grand prize in Qualcomm's Wireless Reach BREW application funding programme
March 4, 2007

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) today announced it has won the grand prize in Qualcomm Incorporated's Wireless Reach BREW® application funding programme. The grand prize includes a $100,000 grant, and Qualcomm will also use additional funds to put Tata Consultancy Services' proposal into action through a new or existing Wireless Reach project. The program, part of Qualcomm's wireless reach initiative, is designed to increase the availability of public service applications around the world.

TCS was awarded a grant in support of its BREW application, which is designed to educate and advise farmers through mobile devices, submitted by TCS' Advanced Technology Application Group (ATAG) headed by Dr Arun Pande. The application will capitalize on the growth of mobile phone usage in the country to help farmers increase their crop yield.

"Mobile broadband and its ability to provide anytime, anywhere Internet access opens a whole range of new possibilities for agrarian markets," said Dr Paul E. Jacobs, CEO of Qualcomm. "Tata Consultancy Services' proposed BREW application stood out as unique among others for the benefits it can provide remote farmers. We're pleased to name Tata Consultancy Services as our grand prize winner."

"As a leading technology company, TCS is proud to create innovative solutions using mobile technology that can spread the Indian economic growth story deeper into the country," said S Ramadorai, CEO and managing director, Tata Consultancy Services. "This grant award recognizes our organisation's commitment to innovation to enable transformation in business and society."

Qualcomm's wireless reach BREW application funding programme is a $1-million fund established to support the development and use of wireless applications. The funding programme challenged companies to create the most innovative BREW public service application in one of five areas: healthcare, education, public safety, governance and the environment. An independent panel of judges evaluated the finalists and selected five organizations from four countries to receive grants of $100,000.

"TCS' BREW application idea came out of our network of Innovation Labs, which have a fine track record of contributing to our business and social responsibility goals," said K Ananth Krishnan, chief technology officer, Tata Consultancy Services. "We will continue to build innovative solutions in the mobility space with Qualcomm."