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The Winner Takes It All: "Forgeathon" Richer Communications App Challenge Winner Goes Global With Acision!
READING, England, February 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Intelligent and intuitive language exchange networking app "Yoroshiku" wins
Acision's "forgeathon"
Acision, the global leader in secure, mobile engagement services and innovator in
WebRTC technology, today announces the winning application of "forgeathon", its online,
richer communications app challenge for projects built using the forge SDK
[http://forge.acision.com/products/forge-sdk ]. "Yoroshiku", a language exchange networking
app by French developer Romain Pellen, took the top prize after judges nominated it based
on criteria including SDK feature usage, Viability, Creativity and User Experience. The
name of the app was inspired by a Japanese greeting, often translated as "pleased to meet
you" or "I look to you for guidance" - suiting the aim of the app perfectly.
Using the forge by Acision SDK [http://forge.acision.com/ ], the six week online
codefest organised in conjunction with BeMyApp [http://events.bemyapp.com ], challenged
teams, individual developers and entrepreneurs from around the world to either create a
new Android, iOS or web app or service, or enhance an existing one, by taking advantage of
the richest, next-generation communication capabilities on the market today - WebRTC. The
winner now has centre stage at two of the world's leading mobile tech events, Mobile World
Congress and SXSW Interactive, to demonstrate their app live on Acision's stand, providing
a platform to take their app global!
The winning submission, Yoroshiku, built as an iOS app, provides a platform for those
learning new languages to practise their speaking, writing and reading skills with real
people, in real-time from users around the world. Users create their profile specifying
which languages they can speak or have an interest in, and can provide a short
introduction about themselves with other interests. The app then suggests potential
"matches" within its community based on these preferences, which the user can review in
"Tinder-esque" fashion by swiping their profiles from left to right. The app remembers
what choices are made and can make further suggestions based on the intelligent profiling
and user feedback. Once a user chooses to connect with another, the forge SDK integration
means they are able to see their presence and when they are online, can start a voice call
directly within the app to practise their skills, initiate a video chat session for an
even more personal experience, or send an instant message to commence a quick interaction.
The self-professed entrepreneur, Parisian developer Romain Pellen said: "While at
university, I studied for a year in Japan on an exchange program, combining my love of
learning languages, experiencing new cultures and travelling with my studies as a software
engineer. I was inspired to create a service that connects people from around the world to
provide a personalised way to practise and enhance their chosen language, often learnt
from books or apps, with real people, in real scenarios, and with native speakers,
establishing a true learning experience."
Romain continued: "While I already had the concept for this app, hearing about the
forgeathon challenge and the capabilities the forge SDK could bring using WebRTC
technology motivated me to take part. Being able to integrate such rich communication
features within my app was what I needed to bring it alive and make it a more complete
offering. Even though I was not previously aware of the forge SDK, I found the tutorials
and documentation incredibly helpful in order for me to create my app in a short
timeframe. Integrating the SDK into the app was also straightforward, and easier than
other SDKs I've tested in the past."
Among the judging panel was celebrity guest judge and WebRTC industry guru, Dean
Bubley, a communications and mobile analyst, founder of Disruptive Analysis, an
independent industry research and consulting firm. Commenting on the deliberation, Dean
said: "When choosing our top submissions and testing the apps, we rated each entry across
four criteria: the extent and effectiveness with which the forge SDK was utilised; the
viability of the application concept; the creativity and originality of the idea; and
lastly the overall user experience. Yoroshiku consistently stood out in all of these
areas, demonstrating a simple, yet intelligent concept which really utilised the richer
communications capabilities from the platform, creating an intuitive service which could
have real traction amongst users."
Along with the winning app, two runners up were also selected: Codemate by Indian
developer Akshat Goel was a firm favourite, with his real-time code pairing web app where
developers can share and collaborate on the same code with friends or other developers
using the service simultaneously, via messaging or video chat using WebRTC. Trippr,
created by team members Ricardo Vegas, Juan Miguel Garcia and Juan Ernesto Garcia, is an
Android app which helps people to decide upon a holiday destination based on publically
available photos related to a particular city or country, scraped from search engines. The
user can swipe left or right to choose the photos they prefer, which the app records and
then offers a destination suggestion based on those choices. It also allows them to book a
flight directly from within the app.
Eric Bilange, Head of Rich Engagement Services commented: "We launched our first ever
"forgeathon" as a platform to open up our SDK to developers and showcase the exciting and
varied ways in which our rich communication tools can be integrated into services,
providing new user experiences beyond capabilities popular today. Above all other
submissions, Yoroshiku, used the most features of the forge SDK, built within a sleek
prototype, whose service was most enriched as a result of the SDK capabilities. This
process has uncovered some great concepts and prototypes, which we hope will be developed
further, even among those who didn't make our top three."
The winning app Yoroshiku, will be showcased on the Acision stand during Mobile World
Congress and SXSW Interactive, with developer Romain Pellen providing live demos and
available to speak in more detail about his development experience using the forge SDK. To
book a meeting or briefing at either event, please contact events@acision.com or visit
Acision's stand A41 at Mobile World Congress in the App Planet, and stand 1235 at SXSW
Interactive.
About Acision
Acision connects the world by powering relevant, seamless mobile engagement services that
interoperate across IP platforms and enrich the user experience creating value and new
communication opportunities for carriers, enterprises and consumers across the world.
For more information, visit Acision at http://www.acision.com and forge at
http://forge.acision.com
About BeMyApp
BeMyApp is specialised in developer relations, and organises developer events such as
online challenges, hackathons, incubator workshops and more, all around the world.
http://www.bemyapp.com.com [http://www.bemyapp.com.com ]
Acision
CONTACT: Press contacts: Nikki Brown Acision Tel: +44-118-930-8620 Email: Nicola.brown@acision.com Karl O'Doherty Hotwire PR Tel: +44-(0)-207-608-2500 Email: acision@hotwirepr.com Maud Levy BeMyApp Tel: +33-634-416-895 Email: Maud.levy@bemyapp.com
The Winner Takes It All: "Forgeathon" Richer Communications App Challenge Winner Goes Global With Acision!
READING, England, February 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Intelligent and intuitive language exchange networking app "Yoroshiku" wins
Acision's "forgeathon"
Acision, the global leader in secure, mobile engagement services and innovator in
WebRTC technology, today announces the winning application of "forgeathon", its online,
richer communications app challenge for projects built using the forge SDK
[http://forge.acision.com/products/forge-sdk ]. "Yoroshiku", a language exchange networking
app by French developer Romain Pellen, took the top prize after judges nominated it based
on criteria including SDK feature usage, Viability, Creativity and User Experience. The
name of the app was inspired by a Japanese greeting, often translated as "pleased to meet
you" or "I look to you for guidance" - suiting the aim of the app perfectly.
Using the forge by Acision SDK [http://forge.acision.com/ ], the six week online
codefest organised in conjunction with BeMyApp [http://events.bemyapp.com ], challenged
teams, individual developers and entrepreneurs from around the world to either create a
new Android, iOS or web app or service, or enhance an existing one, by taking advantage of
the richest, next-generation communication capabilities on the market today - WebRTC. The
winner now has centre stage at two of the world's leading mobile tech events, Mobile World
Congress and SXSW Interactive, to demonstrate their app live on Acision's stand, providing
a platform to take their app global!
The winning submission, Yoroshiku, built as an iOS app, provides a platform for those
learning new languages to practise their speaking, writing and reading skills with real
people, in real-time from users around the world. Users create their profile specifying
which languages they can speak or have an interest in, and can provide a short
introduction about themselves with other interests. The app then suggests potential
"matches" within its community based on these preferences, which the user can review in
"Tinder-esque" fashion by swiping their profiles from left to right. The app remembers
what choices are made and can make further suggestions based on the intelligent profiling
and user feedback. Once a user chooses to connect with another, the forge SDK integration
means they are able to see their presence and when they are online, can start a voice call
directly within the app to practise their skills, initiate a video chat session for an
even more personal experience, or send an instant message to commence a quick interaction.
The self-professed entrepreneur, Parisian developer Romain Pellen said: "While at
university, I studied for a year in Japan on an exchange program, combining my love of
learning languages, experiencing new cultures and travelling with my studies as a software
engineer. I was inspired to create a service that connects people from around the world to
provide a personalised way to practise and enhance their chosen language, often learnt
from books or apps, with real people, in real scenarios, and with native speakers,
establishing a true learning experience."
Romain continued: "While I already had the concept for this app, hearing about the
forgeathon challenge and the capabilities the forge SDK could bring using WebRTC
technology motivated me to take part. Being able to integrate such rich communication
features within my app was what I needed to bring it alive and make it a more complete
offering. Even though I was not previously aware of the forge SDK, I found the tutorials
and documentation incredibly helpful in order for me to create my app in a short
timeframe. Integrating the SDK into the app was also straightforward, and easier than
other SDKs I've tested in the past."
Among the judging panel was celebrity guest judge and WebRTC industry guru, Dean
Bubley, a communications and mobile analyst, founder of Disruptive Analysis, an
independent industry research and consulting firm. Commenting on the deliberation, Dean
said: "When choosing our top submissions and testing the apps, we rated each entry across
four criteria: the extent and effectiveness with which the forge SDK was utilised; the
viability of the application concept; the creativity and originality of the idea; and
lastly the overall user experience. Yoroshiku consistently stood out in all of these
areas, demonstrating a simple, yet intelligent concept which really utilised the richer
communications capabilities from the platform, creating an intuitive service which could
have real traction amongst users."
Along with the winning app, two runners up were also selected: Codemate by Indian
developer Akshat Goel was a firm favourite, with his real-time code pairing web app where
developers can share and collaborate on the same code with friends or other developers
using the service simultaneously, via messaging or video chat using WebRTC. Trippr,
created by team members Ricardo Vegas, Juan Miguel Garcia and Juan Ernesto Garcia, is an
Android app which helps people to decide upon a holiday destination based on publically
available photos related to a particular city or country, scraped from search engines. The
user can swipe left or right to choose the photos they prefer, which the app records and
then offers a destination suggestion based on those choices. It also allows them to book a
flight directly from within the app.
Eric Bilange, Head of Rich Engagement Services commented: "We launched our first ever
"forgeathon" as a platform to open up our SDK to developers and showcase the exciting and
varied ways in which our rich communication tools can be integrated into services,
providing new user experiences beyond capabilities popular today. Above all other
submissions, Yoroshiku, used the most features of the forge SDK, built within a sleek
prototype, whose service was most enriched as a result of the SDK capabilities. This
process has uncovered some great concepts and prototypes, which we hope will be developed
further, even among those who didn't make our top three."
The winning app Yoroshiku, will be showcased on the Acision stand during Mobile World
Congress and SXSW Interactive, with developer Romain Pellen providing live demos and
available to speak in more detail about his development experience using the forge SDK. To
book a meeting or briefing at either event, please contact events@acision.com or visit
Acision's stand A41 at Mobile World Congress in the App Planet, and stand 1235 at SXSW
Interactive.
About Acision
Acision connects the world by powering relevant, seamless mobile engagement services that
interoperate across IP platforms and enrich the user experience creating value and new
communication opportunities for carriers, enterprises and consumers across the world.
For more information, visit Acision at http://www.acision.com and forge at
http://forge.acision.com
About BeMyApp
BeMyApp is specialised in developer relations, and organises developer events such as
online challenges, hackathons, incubator workshops and more, all around the world.
http://www.bemyapp.com.com [http://www.bemyapp.com.com ]
Acision
CONTACT: Press contacts: Nikki Brown Acision Tel: +44-118-930-8620 Email: Nicola.brown@acision.com Karl O'Doherty Hotwire PR Tel: +44-(0)-207-608-2500 Email: acision@hotwirepr.com Maud Levy BeMyApp Tel: +33-634-416-895 Email: Maud.levy@bemyapp.com