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EDB to train 4,000 info-comm experts

Summary

The Economic Development Board (EDB) said it plans to train more than 4,000 people in Singapore in wireless communications, Internet, networking and signal processing technologies over the next three years.

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SINGAPORE--The Economic Development Board (EDB) said it plans to train more than 4,000 people in Singapore in wireless communications, Internet, networking and signal processing technologies over the next three years.

"This is part of our objective to make Singapore an info-communications hub," said EDB director of Electronics Industry Development Division Barry Sim. "We will be working with companies to step up our manpower initiative."

One of the companies it will be working with is Hewlett-Packard Co, through the HP Mobile E-Services Bazaar (MEB) here.

MEB provides incubation and hosting facilities for locally-based startups developing Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), electronic services and speech recognition solutions for mobile devices such as handhelds and cellular phones. WAP is an industry standard that allows mobile phones to access the Internet over a wireless network.

"Definitely, the HP Bazaar will generate the critical manpower resource," Sim noted. In addition, EDB will work with local institutes of higher learning to develop training programs. He did not reveal the amount of investment.

Offically launched here today, MEB will cost HP and EDB S$35 million to set up and operate for four years. The value of the EDB grant was not disclosed.

The initial 3,000 sq ft facility within HP Singapore's office will be expanded to 5,000 sq ft after six months to cope with an expected overwhelming response to MEB, said HP MEB director for Asia Pacific Kelvin Tan.

To date, MEB has attracted 32 partners, including technology companies, telcos, application developers and venture capitalists (VCs).

Technology partners such as Nokia, Ericsson and Motorola will provide the latest handsets for application developers to test their developments. Telcos such as Singapore Telecom, MobileOne (Asia) and StarHub will provide their next generation network General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) as test-beds.

GPRS is an enhancement to the GSM mobile communications system as it supports data transmission.

Other technology partners include Cisco Systems and Oracle. The VCs which will provide seed funding for incubation activities include Hong Kong-based base88, Far East Organization Ventures and GT Group. Application developers include Catcha.com, Davidcan.com, inTouch Wireless Services, CalendarOne, AsiaOne.com and the Centre for Wireless Communications.

Separately, EDB has set up a S$20 million M-Commerce Venture Fund aimed at startups developing mobile applications.

The fund is managed by its investment arm, EDB Investments, which has pumped in S$18 million. Hewlett-Packard Singapore contributed S$2 million to the fund. EDB hopes to increase the fund size to S$30 million with an additional S$10 million from corporate investors and VCs.

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