Billed as the world’s largest gathering for the mobile industry, Mobile World Congress (MWC) is an annual conference currently underway in Barcelona. The conference is put on by GSMA, bringing together corporate executives from device manufacturers, service providers and wireless carriers, along with representation from adjacent industry sections. Last year, there were over 100,000 attendees over a span of four days.
So far this year, Samsung announced a new tablet, Nokia showcased some new phones powered by Android, and Waverly Labs showed off the world’s first, Star Trek-inspired, universal translator earpiece.
Closer to home, the state of Illinois also aimed to position itself as a place for mobile innovation. Several startups have been selected to present the latest in mobile technology development (notably, from the state that originally produced the mobile phone itself).
The Illinois Group Trade Mission from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is returning to Barcelona, “to promote doing business with overseas markets, establish Illinois as a global business leader in the technology sector, and to improve the state's economy with worldwide businesses”, a representative with DCEO told Chicago Inno over email. DCEO said it chooses the companies based on innovative products and services offered, and the potential for success in an international market.
The 14 Illinois companies that were selected this year to join the DCEO at MWC represent a wide spectrum of the mobile ecosystem. They are listed below:
Codal - Full stack UX design and app development agency
Isco International - Spectrum conditioning solutions for wireless operators
Air 802 - High quality networking equipment provider
Keeper Security - Secure password management
Strike Social - AI tool for social advertising
Broadview Communications - Mobile advertising and sponsorship platform
EpiQ Solutions - Wireless sensor development firm
Vibes Media - Mobile marketing solution
Lemko - Private LTE and LTE security
Ora Interactive - Development company
Go Pangea - Software to send money anywhere in the world
NuCurrent - Producer of high-efficiency antennas
Optulink - Real time mobile voice optimization
Parknav - Software to help find street parking
Codal is a returning company at MWC.
“As a design-centric, innovative company working with some of the fastest growing enterprises, we are so excited about Mobile World Congress," said CEO Keval Baxi. "Every year we contribute our expertise to those at MWC, and use the strategies exchanged here towards our customers’ digital transformation goals, as well as to continue growing the mobile brands that we are building in the Chicago tech community.”
