Navteq today announced the twelve semifinalists for its Asia-Pacific Global LBS Challenge.

The contest challenges application developers to build location-based services (LBS) that work with mobile devices using dynamic positioning technology and Navteq maps. This year's global prize pool consisting of cash and data licenses is worth more than $4.5 million.

This year also marks the first Navteq Global LBS Challenge dedicated to the Asia-Pacific region in the five-year history of the program. Navteq received from 27 different countries and set a record for total number of registrations for one region, the company said. These statistics support market research which indicates a high concentration of wireless developers residing in the Asia-Pacific region, according to the company.

Navteq hosted a semifinal judging event in late April in Singapore, and selected twelve semifinalists based on applicability, design, functionality, and solution overview. The following companies will compete for the grand prize and three runner-up prizes, which will be announced at an awards ceremony held at CommunicAsia in Singapore, on June 18, 2008:

• Content category (company/application): FlyPaper Inc./FlyPaper.com; Surround Networks Inc/Surround Connect; RoadGuard/RoadGuard
• Enterprise: Joikusoft Oy Ltd./JoikuSpotLight; Momentum Technologies Group/Local Joe Live; Pacific DataVision/SkyMail
• Entertainment & Leisure: CellCity Pte. Ltd./Digital Concierge 2GO; G Element Pte. Ltd./Earth@sg Mobile; Orbster gmbh/GPS Mission
• Navigation: AtlasCT/City Cruiser
• Social Networking: Lonely Planet/Lonely Planet Mobile City Guide; POINT-I Co., LTD/On2gether

"The Asia-Pacific region is a talent-rich area for wireless developers and the potential for innovative LBS applications is tremendous," said Marc Naddell, vice president, partner and developer programs, Navteq. "We are extremely pleased to have had such as large response in our first year hosting the Global LBS Challenge in the Asia-Pacific region."

Navteq Global LBS Challenge participants gain access to ongoing application development resources and support such as free map samples, tools, technical documents and market information made available through the Navteq Network for Developers, according to the company.