Wattcost wins first Singtel Group-Samsung Mobile regional app challenge

SINGAPORE — A mobile app to help consumers save on electricity costs and improve their home safety was crowned the winner of the inaugural Singtel Group - Samsung Mobile App Challenge today (Nov 26).

Designed by Australian tech company Wattcost, the app, which is available for both iOS and Android, delivers real-time alerts through a wireless beacon to help consumers identify energy-consuming appliances in the household.

While the app is free, users will need to order the accompanying wireless beacon which costs around AU$149 (S$165).

Wattcost will work with Singtel Group and Samsung to market its app to over 500 million mobile customers across Asia and Africa. The app will also have prime product placement on Samsung’s content and services platform.

Since May this year, the competition saw 500 entrants from six countries — Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, Thailand and India — from whom 70 were shortlisted. Six finalists from the participating countries were then selected for the final pitch today.

Speaking the media conference today, SingTel chief executive (international) Mark Chong said: “The Singtel Group-Samsung Regional Mobile App Challenge is part of our efforts to foster innovation... at a time when mobile devices are becoming more pervasive in the Asian markets.”