This past February, Alcatel-Lucent launched its touchatag service - it was actually a rebranding of the former tikitag - looking to differentiate its brand in the growing RFID space. touchatag is the online RFID service that brings to developers an ability to connect objects and devices to Web applications, allowing those applications to be initiated via RFID-enabled devices.

 

In July, touchatag was named to the list of 2009 Best Products and Services by Network Products Guide, thanks to its innovation in driving services and solutions that leveraging next generation communications technology to enhance the value of both applications and RFID-enabled products.

 

This week, Alcatel-Lucent has taken steps to extend its touchatag service to a wider developer community, announcing a competition, called "Vienna Jungle Scrum," inviting developers to submit their entries for the most innovative Near Field Communications (NFC) urban game for mobile phones. The competition is part of mobilkom austria's A1 Innovation Days 2009, and challenges developers to create their games with the city of Vienna as their urban environment.

 

Urban gaming - also known as location-based gaming - leverages GPS and NFC technologies to create real-world games, like point-to-point races, scavenger hunts, problem solving - not unlike a localized, mobile-device based version of the popular reality TV show, Amazing Race - as well as interactive local tour applications.

 

Alcatel-Lucent, through its sponsorship of the challenge, hopes to drive interest and innovation in the use of NFC technology, while also exposing the capabilities of touchatag to a wider developer community. Using touchatag, developers are able to tag locations and objects with RFID stickers, linking them to online information using NFC-enabled phones, creating the interactive experience. Ultimately, the hope is to drive the development of real-world utilities, like mobile device-based electronic financial transactions.

 

"Our goal is to stimulate developers to create mobile applications utilizing leading edge NFC technology" said Anthony Belpaire, General Manager, Alcatel-Lucent touchatag venture, " Urban gaming is a first step in building user comfort in using the technology for more advanced e-wallet transaction applications, such as coupon redemption, payment and fidelity."

 

The Vienna Jungle Scrum is open to developers across the globe through September 18, 2009, with winners being awarded a total of €5000 in cash prizes.