By Chris Donkin
Device giants set to slug it out for top awards
Samsung, Apple, Oppo and Google are set to compete for the coveted Best Smartphone prize at this year’s Glomo awards presented at MWC, as cutting-edge innovations and impactful projects will be recognised across the 30 accolades on offer.
Smartphones making the shortlist in the headline category are Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro range, Google Pixel 8 series and OnePlus Open/OPPO Find N3 alongside Samsung’s S23 devices and the South Korean player’s foldable Galaxy Flip 5. Apple’s flagship models scooped the prize in the last two editions, with the last winner outside of the “big two” of Samsung and Apple coming in 2020 when OnePlus scooped the award.
Sticking with devices, the prize recognising innovation in the segment will see Google offer a pair of contending technologies including its AI imaging capability. The US vendor will compete with Honor’s dual battery tech, Oppo’s OS, an OxygenOS feature for foldable multitasking, and Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon chipset.
The shortlist for the Glomo for best connected consumer device covers the wider spectrum of hardware connected to the world of mobile including eyewear from HTC and RayNeo, a Huawei watch, Samsung tablet and Bullitt Satellite technology used on the Motorola Defy.
Outside of the closely contested device categories are awards covering a wide range of leading hardware, technology, projects and initiatives driving real change in society.
Players from the Asia Pacific region have a high presence in the network technology awards with Huawei holding three shortlisted entries and ZTE two in the best network infrastructure category. China’s premium pair will battle it out for that award with Samsung Networks which makes the shortlist for its work on Vodafone’s UK open RAN project.
Between ZTE and Huawei they also hold four fifths of the shortlisted innovations in the best technology breakthrough award with Qualcomm the other contender.
Cutting-edge
The Glomos always place a strong emphasis on recognising emerging technologies and 2024 will be no exception with new awards dedicated to the likes of AI, non-terrestrial infrastructure and private network deployments.
Covering what has probably been the hot topic of the last twelve months is Best AI Innovation, one of six new awards set to be given out at MWC24.
Here, Authena AI’s supply chain project, China Mobile Zhejiang and Huawei’s generative AI cockpit, China Unicom’s smart contact centre, forecasting model system Pangu-Weather and Qualcomm’s AI engine contest the accolade.
Two other major industry areas gaining huge interest since the previous awards are the use of private networks and satellite coverage. Achievement across both areas are honored with fresh prizes for 2024.
The Best private network solution will see projects including China Mobile, China Unicom, HKT and ZTE among the entrants. The best non-terrestrial network solution category comprises: Huawei for the dual-satellite communication on the Huawei Mate 60 Pro+, Lockheed Martin for its Advanced Regenerative 5G NTN NR Satellite Base Station, EchoStar Mobile for Maxxive IoT, Skylo Technologies, Sateliot, and Lynk Global.
Results will be announced at a ceremony held at the MWC Debate Stage in Hall 6 on Wednesday at 5.30pm CET and live on Mobile World Live TV available on site and online.