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NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release Contacts: Joy Torchia, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
816-932-1045 Heather A. Katz, Ph.D., Hot Lava Software, Inc.
540-428-2988 Barbara Walls, Hot Lava Software, Inc.
540-428-2988 kajeet, Hot Lava & the Kauffman Foundation Reach out to Kid Oriented Mobile Phones with STEM Lessons WASHINGTON, DC (August 18, 2008)-On July 1, 2008, kajeet, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, and Hot Lava Software, Inc. began to impact the way that youth learn about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The Sports Bytes Competition allows youth to learn about the science behind sports via their mobile phones. Sports Bytes focuses on popular sports through "brain-teaser" questions that allow users to relate STEM concepts to real world contexts. Questions involving baseball will challenge the user to determine whether a professional batter can decide to swing literally in a blink of an eye. Other featured sports are soccer, cycling, and swimming, which provide practical application to STEM concepts. kajeet is the only pay-as-you-go cell phone service that puts kids first while simultaneously empowering them and keeping them safe-facilitating them to respond with confidence to what's happening in their world. "We are capitalizing on young fans' love for cell phones by using them as a learning tool," said Merrilea J. Mayo, Ph.D., Director, Future of Learning Initiatives for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. "This new competition allows us to reach and inspire kids in a unique way. Our hope is that they learn how exciting science can be and potentially explore a career in the field." Powered by Hot Lava Software's Mobile Delivery and Tracking System (MDTS), kajeet users can access Sports Bytes from their kajeet phone deck menu. After answering a STEM question they are rewarded with free Sports Bytes themed wallpapers for their mobile phones. Since July 1, 2008, the global Sports Bytes Competition has gone beyond kajeet users to engage thousands of people within Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. As of August 15, the promotion has over 130,000 registered users and over 40,000 users who have answered one or more questions about the science behind sports. To participate in the Sports Bytes Competition right now, text sport to 83960 or text your answer to the question below to 83960. A pro batter decides to swing in a blink of an eye? About Hot Lava Software, Inc.
Hot Lava Software, Inc. is the leading provider of mobile authoring, publishing, delivery and tracking solutions. Using Hot Lava Software's content development and publishing system (LMA) integrated with the Hot Lava Mobile Delivery and Tracking SystemTM (MDTS) allows organizations to have the tools and knowledge needed to launch and track mobile initiatives faster, with more cost efficiency. Hot Lava Software provides mobile content solutions and design, as well as authoring and publishing solutions to corporations, governments and universities around the world. More information is available at www.hotlavasoftware.com.
About the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private nonpartisan foundation that works to harness the power of entrepreneurship and innovation to grow economies and improve human welfare. Through its research and other initiatives, the Kauffman Foundation aims to open young people's eyes to the possibility of entrepreneurship, promote entrepreneurship education, raise awareness of entrepreneurship-friendly policies, and find alternative pathways for the commercialization of new knowledge and technologies. It also works to prepare students to be innovators, entrepreneurs and skilled workers in the 21st century economy through initiatives designed to improve learning in math, engineering, science and technology. Founded by the late entrepreneur and philanthropist, Ewing Marion Kauffman, the Foundation is based in Kansas City, Mo. More information is available at http://www.kauffman.org/.
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