December 2009: The annual islandwide mobiHunt, held on 21 Nov 2009, has made it into the Singapore Book of Records as the nation’s biggest treasure hunt using mobile technology.

A total of 106 participants in teams of two to four were flagged off at the SAFRA Jurong Club House, and travelled to landmarks across the island using only public transport (buses or MRT trains).

Some teams used foot power, such as when getting out of the MRT station and running all the way to the next checkpoint, instead of waiting for a shuttle bus.

Participants had to complete quiz questions which they received through the MeSH wireless on their mobile phones at each checkpoint. The winning team, Mahjong Paws (Boon, Mel, Caleb and Kelvin, see picture below) answered the most number of questions correctly in the shortest time, and walked away with $1,500 worth of cash prizes.

Despite being at the mercy of public transport and a lot of running and scrambling around, Mahjong Paws said on their blog after the race that they had won because of their “speediness, familiarity with the places, and luck of course.”

Team member Boon also said he will be donating his share of the prize money to charities in Nepal, having just returned from a trip there and wants to be able to bring some value into their lives.

The annual mobiHunt event is organised by NCS Portal City which manages the NS Portal.