Truphone Selected by the World Economic Forum as Technology Pioneer 2007

Market Wire, December, 2006

Mobile communications company Truphone has been selected by the World Economic Forum as one of 47 Technology Pioneers for 2007, of which six are from the UK.

The World Economic Forum's Technology Pioneers are companies that have been identified as 'developing and applying highly transformational and innovative technologies in the areas of energy, biotechnology & health, and information technology'. This year's companies were selected not only because of their cutting-edge work, but also because their work has potential long-term impact on business and society. Previous Technology Pioneers include Autonomy, Cambridge Silicon Radio, Encore Software, Google, Millennium Pharmaceuticals and Napster.

Truphone has developed technology based on open source (free) software that means internet-connected Wi-Fi networks instantly become part of a global phone network: free, downloadable software then enables the latest Wi-Fi-equipped cellular phones to make internet-rate phone calls (VoIP calls) from Wi-Fi hotspots anywhere. Truphone's technology heralds not only greatly reduced mobile telephony costs for individual consumers, but also opens up the possibility of deploying new, low-cost mobile networks in emerging economies.

Alexander Straub, co-founder and director of strategy, said: "Truphone brings seamless low-cost internet calling to your existing mobile and address book at the individual level, but it also facilitates a technology jump at a macro level in the developing world: emerging markets can build mobile telephony networks with low cost wireless internet zones instead of making the massive investment needed to develop full carrier networks."

Peter Torreele, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, said: "The competition to become a Technology Pioneer has been more intense than ever. It is evident that technology and innovation is playing a key role in the shifting power equation at a global level. Driving this shift is the tremendous amount of innovation taking place outside of traditional hubs. The wide geographic spread of this year's Technology Pioneers is a testament to this trend. We are pleased to welcome these exciting companies to our Community of Technology Pioneers, and look forward to engaging these industry leaders of the future into the community of the World Economic Forum."

To be selected as a Technology Pioneer, a company must be involved in the development of life-changing technology innovation and have the potential for long-term impact on business and society. In addition, it must demonstrate visionary leadership, show all the signs of being a long-standing market leader - and its technology must be proven.

This year's Pioneers were nominated by the world's leading venture capital and technology companies, with the final selection from 225 nominees made by a panel of leading technology experts appointed by the World Economic Forum. Technology Pioneers 2007 are invited to attend the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum to be held in Davos, Switzerland from 24-28 January 2007.

The companies' products include microscopic pill cameras, bio sensors that localize landmines, implantable medical devices for the treatment of brain tumours, mobile television service, blog search engines, open source web browsers, video headsets, thin-film diamond coatings, solar air-conditioner equipment, paper batteries for music-playing greeting cards, and even an automatic and compacting trash bin powered by solar energy.

Over half (27) of the Technology Pioneers 2007 are US-based companies, with 13 located in California. The United Kingdom boasts six Technology Pioneers 2007; the Netherlands, India, Israel and Singapore boast two each; Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden and Switzerland have one each.

Notes to editors

Go to http://www.weforum.org/en/about/Technology Pioneers/Nominations/index.htm for details of selection criteria.

Go to http://www.weforum.org/techpioneers/2007 for the entire list of Technology Pioneers and interviews with the CEOs of the selected companies. Download print-quality high resolution photographs at: www.pbase.com/forumweb/techpioneers2007

For more specific information, please e-mail: tech.pioneers@weforum.org .

About the World Economic Forum: The World Economic Forum ( http://www.weforum.org ), based in Geneva, Switzerland, is an independent organization committed to improving the state of the world. Funded by the contributions of 1,000 of the world's foremost corporations, the Forum acts in the spirit of entrepreneurship in the global public interest to further economic growth and social progress. The Forum serves its members and society by creating partnerships between and among business, political, intellectual and other leaders of society to define, discuss and advance key issues on the global agenda. Incorporated in 1971 as a foundation, the World Economic Forum is impartial and not-for-profit, and is tied to no political, partisan or national interests. In 1995 the Forum was awarded NGO consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.