The competition is being run by the global developer programme, Forum Nokia, which connects developers to tools, technical information, support, and distribution channels to help build and market applications around the globe. The aim of the contest is to challenge mobile and web application developers in the UK to create best in class applications that could be made available on the Ovi Store, Nokia’s one stop shop for applications and mobile content.
Nokia is looking for applications and content which are relevant to consumers in the UK across the following five categories: Social location – apps that use Ovi Maps 3.0 or integrate a location element to take a new or existing app to the next level; Business and productivity – apps that help make people’s work lives easier and enable them to grown their business; Communications and social networking – from news to social networking and IM, apps that connect people to each other and the world around them; Games – the next big hit for all the people who love to play games while on the go’ and Just for fun – apps that people simply can’t live without.
The overall winner across all five categories will have their application published on Nokia’s Ovi Store and will also walk away with £20,000 in cash, a ticket and paid travel to a Nokia developer event in the Spring 2010, Nokia’s sponsorship to become an Ovi Store publisher and one year’s membership to Forum Nokia Launchpad.
The winning application from each of the other four categories will also be published on Nokia’s Ovi Store and the developer will receive a cash prize of £2,500 plus Nokia’s sponsorship to become an Ovi Store publisher and one year’s membership to Forum Nokia Launchpad. Nokia will also review the winning applications in all categories for possible preload on future Nokia devices.
Rupert Englander, UK head of services at Nokia, commented: “We are looking for bold ideas from talented developers who can demonstrate a real understanding of what UK consumers want from mobile content. The range of categories reflects our ambition to develop mobile technology which helps consumers to manage their busy lives and to share and communicate with friends and family more easily.
“While we are looking for apps that help personal productivity, we also want ideas that are fun and entertaining. Creating fresh ideas for applications is key in the fast paced mobile content market and UK developers play a major role in driving forward innovation. This competition is not just about nurturing talent but also offering the UK developer community access to an unrivalled network of consumers through our Ovi Store channel.”
Submissions for the contest will be accepted until 30 November 2009 and the winners of Calling All Innovators UK will be announced by 31 December.