Only promising companies and technologies are invited to present to the Telecom Council, and among these, some young companies stand out for their innovation, market opportunity, or quantifiable interest among the Council's 30+ global Service Providers including BT, T-Mobile, China Mobile, DoCoMo, Orange, Reliance, Rogers, Sprint, Softbank, Swisscom, Tata, Telstra, Verizon, US Cellular and many other fixed and wireless carriers from Europe, Asia, and North and South America listed on the Telecom Council website.

The SPIFFYS recognize 7 communications startups each year for their innovation, opportunity and promise.

SPIFFY nominees are selected by the carriers in Telecom Council's Service Provider Innovation Forum (SPIF) from among over 200 early-stage companies representing a broad range of telecom products and services who presented at Telecom Council meetings between July 2016 and August 2017.

This year, winners of the 10th Annual SPIFFY Awards were announced by members of the Council's Service Provider Forum in a public ceremony during TC3: Telecom Council Carrier Connections Summit, November 1st at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA. Nominees were joined by operators, vendors, investors, and many other startups at the SPIFFY Awards ceremony which was open to the public.

The 2017 SPIFFY AWARD WINNERS are…

• The Graham Bell Award for Best Communication Solutions goes to Sightcall
• The Edison Award for Most Innovative Start-Up goes to DataRPM
• The San Andreas Award for Most Disruptive Technology goes to Veniam
• The Core Award for Best Fixed Telecom Opportunity goes to Datera
• The Zephyr Award for Best Mobile Opportunity goes to AtheerAir
• The Ground Breaker Award for Engineering Excellence goes to Cinova
• The Prodigy Award for the Most Successful SPiF Alumni is Plex
• The Fred & Ginger Award for Most Supportive Carrier goes to Verizon

The 2017 SPIFFY AWARD NOMINEES were:

The Graham Bell Award for Best Communication Solutions
Telecom is really about helping people communicate, historically that has meant connecting one with another, but now can mean connecting many with many, or connecting people to machines. This award recognizes the company that advanced the noble cause of improving telecommunications.

• Altia Systems - Video, Telecommunications, Mobile
• Pantomime - Augmented Reality, Mobile
• Sightcall - Developer APIs, Cloud Computing, Apps, Video Chat, Video, Enterprise Software, Video Conferencing, Mobile
• SpeakMusic - Developer APIs, Cloud Computing, Apps, Video Chat, Video, Enterprise Software, Video Conferencing, Mobile
• Stringify - Enterprise Software, Information Technology, Internet of Things

The Edison Award for Most Innovative Start-Up
Some ideas are so unusual they surprise you, but it's a small minority of these that are also likely to succeed. With this award, we recognize the startup that brings the most innovative ideas, but also the ability to successfully bring that idea to market.

• Baffle - Content, Enterprise Applications, Security
• Crunch - Video, Live, Mobile, Virtual Reality, Optimization
• DataRPM - Machine Learning, Analytics, Software, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Predictive Analytics
• Janus VR - Internet, Virtual Reality
• On Second Thought - B2C, Android, Messaging, B2B, Mobile

The San Andreas Award for Most Disruptive Technology
This award is for the most game-changing startup to present to the Telecom Council. It is offered to the company whose progress is most likely to disrupt markets and change the way people do things.

• GameCommerce - Brand Storytelling, Augmented Reality, Gamification, Content Platform, Mobile, Marketing
• Netrolix - network architecture, network visibility, network evolution, secure network, control network
• NextLevel - Customer Service, Customer Support, Call Center, Training, Consulting
• SpaceBelt - Telecom, Satellite, Cloud, Network, Storage
• Veniam - Autonomous Vehicles, Transportation, Wireless, Internet of Things, Communications Infrastructure

The Core Award for Best Fixed Telecom Opportunity
This award recognizes the best investment opportunity within the fixed telecom sector that we've seen at the SPIF Meeting in the past year.

• BlueTalon - Cyber Security, Big Data, Cloud Data Services, Information Technology
• Datera - Real Time, Data Center, Cloud Computing, Software
• Make.TV - Broadcasting, TV Production, SaaS, Cloud Computing, TV, Video Streaming, Software
• Phantom - Network Security, Cyber Security, Security
• Viviso - Internet, Advertising, Video Streaming

The Zephyr Award for Best Mobile Opportunity
This award recognizes the best investment opportunity within the mobile telecom sector that we've seen at the SPIF Meeting in the past year.

• AtheerAir - smart glass, interactive 3d, enterprise application, motion tracking, image annotation
• Colony Networks - integration, compliancy, identity, permissions, wireless, Wi-Fi, PCI, cloud applications, monitoring, alerts, central control
• Instapio - Embedded Software, Data Integration, Business Intelligence, Enterprise Applications, Retail Technology, Developer Platform, Big Data, Internet of Things
• invi Labs - Android, Messaging, Apps, Mobile
• RapidSOS - Mobile Apps, mHealth, GovTech, Mobile, Public Safety

The Ground Breaker Award for Engineering Excellence
This award is offered to the company that has produced the most impressive technological advancements. These are the firms who have invested in R&D, and have turned the gears of progress through sweat, tenacity, and a Costco account for Jolt and Mountain Dew.

• Cinova - ecommerce, streaming, online photos, cloud, engagement
• Enflux - Consumer Electronics, Hardware, Motion Capture, Virtual Reality
• G'AudioLab - Audio, Digital Entertainment, Virtual Reality
• Mist - IT Infrastructure, Wireless
• skymind - Business Intelligence, Machine Learning, Analytics, Data Mining, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence

The Prodigy Award for the Most Successful SPIF Alumni
This award is given to the past SPIF presenting company that went on to achieve the most notable growth, market success or exit.

• Ingenu (formerly OnRamp Wireless) - Wireless, Mobile, Internet of Things, Power Grid, Communications Infrastructure
• Kymeta - Satellite Communication, Aerospace, Hardware, Software, Mobile
• Plex - Digital Media, Media and Entertainment, Mobile Apps, Video Streaming, Mobile
• SmartThings - Internet, Smart Home, Small and Medium Businesses, Automotive, Enterprise Software, Mobile, Open Source, Internet of Things
• SpiderCloud - Wireless, Optical Communication, Enterprise Software

The 2016 SPIFFY AWARD WINNERS were…

• The Graham Bell Award for Best Communication Solutions goes to ThinkCX Technologies, Inc.
• The Edison Award for Most Innovative Start-Up goes to Peel
• The San Andreas Award for Most Disruptive Technology goes to Loop AI Labs
• The Core Award for Best Fixed Telecom Opportunity goes to CUJO
• The Zephyr Award for Best Mobile Opportunity goes to Simless, Inc.
• The Ground Breaker Award for Engineering Excellence goes to Atheer Inc
• The Prodigy Award for the Most Successful SPiF Alumni is iControl Networks
• The Fred & Ginger Award for Most Supportive Carrier goes to Telefónica