OREANDA-NEWS. August 25, 2014. i-Free, organizer of the annual international Mobile Trends Forum, has announced that the forum won't take place this year. 

The Mobile Trends Forum, formerly known as the Mobile VAS & Apps Conference, has been held annually since 2003 and is one of the most anticipated mobile industry events in Russia. i-Free has held the role as the conference's key partner since the very beginning; and later the company became the conference organizer.

The conference has always attracted a large number of sponsors; however, this year the situation is different. Amendments to the "Communications Act" which became effective on May 1st, 2014, have led to a reduction in the size of additional mobile services and the mobile content market by more than 50%. This harmful recession has severely affected the business of many companies who had previously sponsored the conference.

Under the existing conditions, conference partners cannot guarantee the allocation of sponsor funds for the forum. This has meant that i-Free has had to cancel both the conference and the Russian Mobile Awards (RMA) contest this year.

"This decision was very painful and difficult for us", Vasiliy Kuntsevich, i-Free General Manager, said. "The conference has always provoked much interest, and many famous speakers from both Russia and other countries have confirmed their participation this year. However, the organization of such an event requires important participation of sponsors, which cannot be obtained amid the crisis in the additional mobile services industry. That's why, unfortunately, we had to cancel the conference this year. On behalf of i-Free, I would like to offer my apologies to all who were working at the organization of the event as well as those who counted on it as a platform for the development of their business. We are sure that it is only a temporary break. I believe that next year will bear positive changes, the situation in our industry will improve and the forum will be definitely held".

Ekaterina Ivanova, Head of i-Free Events and Head of the Conference Organizing Committee, added that: "I would also like to apologize to all those who planned their participation - speakers, partners, members of the RMA judging panel and potential delegates. Thank you for your interest in the forum and your willingness to cooperate. We hope for your understanding".