1. Opening of Microsoft Innovation Center
The official opening of Microsoft Innovation Center was held May 11 in Yerevan as part of the basic agreement signed by the government of Armenia and Microsoft Corporation in 2009 November. The main aim of this Centre, equipped with the latest technology, is to stimulate innovations in Armenia, to identify ideas, help form and introduce IT solutions in various sectors of economy. Under the business model, Microsoft and partners will fund the center for three years, after which it must become self-sustaining
2. Launch of the unified AdNet.am advertising network
At the end of September All Media company presented the first in Armenia unified advertising network AdNet.am. It was designed to bring into a single ad network only quality Armenian Internet resources by using the most effective online advertising formats. The unified network’s technical launch was held on 20 June, and today it unites 12 partners covering a sizeable portion of Armenian Internet. The network provides flexible targeting tools, also a possibility to obtain more than 10 types of reporting, segmentation of targeted audience and reduction of advertising costs.
3. Visit to Armenia by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak
Steve Wozniak arrived in Yerevan on November 9 to receive the annual Global Award established last year by Armenian president to honor his “outstanding contribution to humanity.’ Wozniak was given a very warm welcome by residents of Yerevan. For two days his fans gathered outside a luxurious hotel in downtown Yerevan where he stayed, to see the man who has changed the course of human history. During his stay in the Armenian capital Wozniak met with representatives of IT sector, students, scholars, the prime minister, Cabinet members, Catholicos of All Armenians; he visited also the Memorial to Victims of Genocide and, of course, met with the president. Apple co-founder promised to come back to Armenia, because after this visit, he will remain forever "partly Armenian."
4. Opening of Armenian-Indian Center of IT Excellence
The Armenian-Indian Center of Excellence in IT opened November 7 at Yerevan State University. The agreement to establish it was reached in 2009. The Center is equipped with India-manufactured Supercomputer Param (10-40 gigaflops performance) worth over $1.5 million. The Center will be funded by Armenian government and the University. All equipment is provided by the government of India. The cost of creating the Center was estimated at $3 million, of which $2 are India-supplied equipment.
5. The first design contest-festival Yerevan Hackathon [YAN] 2011
The first contest-festival of innovative ideas, projects and programming Yerevan Hackathon [YAN] 2011 was held on December 17 in Yerevan. The contest and the festival were designed to stimulate the participation of citizens in the solution of their city’s problems. The event lasted 24 hours. As a result a number of software projects were developed about how to improve public transportation system, encourage tourism, improve garbage removal, install street signs, develop a single automated information platform for the mayor's office, and install street lighting and more. A team called Helper was recognized the winner in the nomination "Best Project" which developed a mobile application for people with hearing problems.
6. The opening of the regional mobile applications (m-Lab) laboratory
According to a memorandum signed by the Ministry of Economy of Armenia, the Government of Finland, Nokia company, the World Bank and the Enterprise Incubator Fund the first mobile application regional laboratory (m-Lab) for Eastern Europe, Southern Caucasus and the CIS countries (except for Russia) was launched in Armenia in July. mLab in Armenia is one of five laboratories of mobile application, set up across the globe by Nokia. The other four are in South Africa, Tanzania, Vietnam and Pakistan. The creation of this lab means that Armenian technology will reach markets in Eastern Europe, Southern Caucasus, Central Asia and CIS countries. Local and regional companies and professionals can collaborate in this lab to develop applications that meet current user requirements.
7. Opening of Tumo Centre for Creative Technologies in Yerevan
The Tumo Center for Creative Technologies was inaugurated on August 16. The Center is designed to provide free IT training to young people aged 12-18. Its purpose is to introduce advanced technologies, as well as provide with opportunities for in-depth study of IT industry. The first phase of training includes development of computer games, movies in Digital Media format, Web design and animation. The most talented students in 1-2 years will pass to the second stage and help professionals in the educational process. On the second floor there is a lab incubator on 4,000 square meters, as well as studios and private offices. The students will have opportunity to participate in various international competitions and trainings of such companies as Pixar and Disney.
8. The first open championship of Armenia in design of computer and mobile games
The results of the first open championship of Armenia in the design of computer and mobile games were summed up in June. A three-dimensional game “Ani" was named the best. The competition was the initiative of the Union of Information Technology Enterprises (UITE) in collaboration with Orange Armenia telecom to identify new talents, develop design computing and mobile gaming, as well as provide with access to international markets.
9. Armenia was first in CIS to start official sales of iPhone 4S smartphones
Armenia was the first country in the CIS to start official sales of iPhone 4S smartphones. The first 500 devices went on sale on the same day at 30 stores of Orange Armenia. A company IPhone.am, which is not an official representative of Apple in Armenia, began unofficial sales of iPhone 4S October 24.
10. The first merger of providers
Two Armenian Internet Company - UCom and Netsys, announced September 6 their merger without disclosing details of the deal. "We made a mutual decision to merge the two companies as part of UCom and build on our combined technical base new and expanded services," Ucom director Hayk Yesayan said. Later, in October, it was announced that another Armenian Internet provider iCON Communications, will be also taken over by UCom. The details of the deal were not disclosed either. -0-
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14:51 12/23/2011
