**Nominations Open for Pipeline’s 2013 COMET Awards**

Recognizing Innovators in Communications and Entertainment Technology

ANN ARBOR, Mich. & CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pipeline magazine has announced that nominations are now open for its 2013 COMET Innovation Awards program, which provides the highest level of objective endorsement for innovations and thought leadership in the communications and entertainment technology (COMET) industry. Furthermore, it calls attention to technology and service providers who are enabling the evolution of communications and entertainment services.

“The world of communications and entertainment services is constantly evolving, and the COMET awards provide key recognition of important milestones”

Last year’s nominations encompassed more than 70 companies, including these finalists:

Companies are encouraged to nominate themselves, their customers and their partners. Those interested in competing for awards should submit the official nomination form as soon as possible to ensure adequate time for review, approval and completion of their subsequent submission package.

“The world of communications and entertainment services is constantly evolving, and the COMET awards provide key recognition of important milestones,” says Jason Cook, chief architect and CTO, BT Global Services. “The competition and quality of the 2012 submissions was very high, and I look forward with anticipation to the 2013 awards to see the progress the industry made over the last year.”

The program’s 14 separate award categories will help shine a light on companies that have developed technical breakthroughs that continue to shape the way we communicate as a society by taking our experience to new levels, enhancing services and extending connectivity to homes, vehicles, devices, and even outer space. More information on this year’s categories can be found at pipelinepub.com/info/innovation_awards.php.

“Last year’s submissions were incredibly strong, and demonstrated the vibrancy and edge of innovations occurring in the communications and entertainment industry,” says Scott St. John, executive editor of Pipeline. “I expect the 2013 submissions will continue to raise the bar, and I’m eager to explore the technical advancements that impact so many facets of our daily lives.”

“Winning the 2012 COMET for Technical Innovation provided Ontology Systems with external and objective target-market validation at an important time in our growth,” says Benedict Enweani, the company’s CEO and co-founder. “For example, the exposure and endorsement of our innovation by leading global service providers and key industry stakeholders provided unique credibility that subsequently helped us achieve strategic deployments within T-Mobile and Vodafone group companies.”

An esteemed judging panel comprised of key communications service provider (CSP) executives, influential industry analysts and Pipeline editors will review the nominated companies’ submission packages and select the winners. The 2013 judges’ identities will be held in confidence until the awards presentation; however, along with well-known telecom analysts, last year’s panel included senior members of AT&T, British Telecom (BT), Cox Communications, Intelsat, TELUS, Turkcell, and Yota.

At the request of service providers whose executives served on the 2012 panel, CSPs will now be able to compete in all 14 categories, including one created just for them: Provider of the Year. (These companies’ submission packages will be judged exclusively by the panel’s industry analysts and journalists.) Many top-tier CSPs from around the globe have already informed Pipeline of their plans to compete; those who win a coveted COMET award will receive a notable endorsement of their innovations, not only by top analysts who specialize in this unique area of technology but by Pipeline, which has dedicated itself to covering the COMET industry over the past decade.

Winners will be announced and presented with their COMET trophies at a gala Innovation Awards reception on Monday, May 13, in Nice, France.

For more information:

2013 Innovation Awards program: pipelinepub.com/info/innovation_awards.php.
Nomination form: pipelinepub.com/info/innovation_awards_submit_2013.php.
Highlights of the 2012 program: pipelinepub.com/12-06-Jun-Innovation/Feature-Innovation-Awards.
Contact sales@pipelinepub.com to find out about the various levels of sponsorships available for the gala awards reception.
If you have any questions about the 2013 program, email comet@pipelinepub.com.
Follow the program’s news on Twitter: #COMET13.

Tags:

Pipeline, Pipeline Magazine, Pipeline Publishing, Nice, Management World, Innovation Awards, innovation, excellence, communications, technology, OSS, BSS, B/OSS, telecom

About Pipeline Publishing, L.L.C.:

Pipeline Publishing, L.L.C. is the publisher of Pipeline magazine, which explores real-world issues, technologies and trends facing service providers. Pipeline presents global editorial coverage of the communications and entertainment technology (COMET) industry and real-time news that affects the service providers and suppliers who are enabling the future of communications and entertainment services. We invite you to subscribe to Pipeline today at pipelinepub.com/info/subscribe.php.

To learn more about Pipeline or its Innovation Awards program, including official rules for the nomination process, visit pipelinepub.com.

Contacts

MarketVue Consulting, L.L.C.
Donna Bastien
(303) 880-4904
donna@pipelinepub.com
or
Pipeline Publishing, L.L.C.
Scott St. John
Executive Editor
(734) 707-4988 ext 100
scott@pipelinepub.com