Nokia and Microsoft to announce app competition winner in May

The competition, which is divided into two categories (Apps and Games), will see the  winners walk away with US$10,000, a trip to a Nokia Global event, plus an XBOX and Lumia 920 for each team member while the second placed team will get US$5,000 an XBOX and a Lumia 920 for each team member.

The competition was set up to provide students with exposure and training on latest mobile and development technologies.

Apart from the final award, the students will benefit from advanced technical training and coding sessions carried out by Nokia and Microsoft software experts through weekly webinars and dedicated online support to help them improve their innovations.

Joe Devassy, Nokia’s head of developer experience, said the challenge will offer the participating developers real life experience in designing consumer oriented apps while at the same time solving the acute challenge of few apps in various sectors.

“We designed this competition to maximise the learning process of this entrepreneurial journey – that is, how to go from an abstract idea to a fully-developed Windows Phone 8 app available to millions of consumers worldwide,” he said.

Amintas Lopes Neto, Microsoft’s academia and startups lead for Middle East and Africa, said the participants will also learn about the latest advances in creating apps with its Windows products offering a platform from which the innovators can work on.

“This initiative, which empowers young local talent with world-class opportunities to develop and learn about the latest advances in mobile app technology, is testament to our commitment to the region.

“Windows Phone 8 is a great mobile platform and there is immense opportunity for developers to leverage and utilise the innovative features of the Nokia Lumia range including augmented reality navigation, NFC and imaging,” said Amintas.

Participants final submissions are expected to close on March 27 with the apps to be published by mid April.