Nokia runs global developer contest

By Dan Butcher

September 23, 2008

Megaphone for megabucks

Forum Nokia has announced "Calling All Innovators," a global contest for developers to create mobile applications that will help to better society. 

Calling All Innovators challenges developers to think big about the opportunity to impact the quality of human life with mobile applications. Nokia will award up to $150,000 in cash and prizes, in addition to helping the winning developers distribute their mobile applications.

“Forum Nokia is challenging all developers—not just mobile developers—to think big about the opportunity to impact the quality of human life with mobile applications,” said Kasey Farrar, White Plains, NY-based communications manager for Nokia. “We are looking for developers to solve real problems that face real people that will help to better society.”

Dean Kamen has endorsed Calling All Innovators.

Mr. Kamen is the global technology pioneer best known for inventing the Segway PT and for founding For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, or FIRST. The organization inspires high school students worldwide to study science and technology.

Opportunity for developers

"For over 15 years, I've been focused on sparking the curiosity of up-and-coming inventors, especially kids, by showing them that science, technology and problem solving is rewarding, and important," Mr. Kamen said in a press release.

"Now that mobile devices are becoming as powerful as personal computers and more ubiquitous, challenging mobile developers and young inventors to develop the right applications can take the device simply known as a cellular phone and transform it into a catalyst to help society in many different ways," he said.

Nokia and Mr. Kamen share the belief that technology can be a key driver of significant social and environmental change, particularly in emerging economies, where conflicts over scarce resources often impede the potential for human development.

Nokia and Mr. Kamen challenge developers participating in Calling All Innovators to think about the possibilities.

“We can't begin to imagine what sort of applications developers can come up with to solve these problems, but imagine if an application could help relief workers reallocate resources in real time for disaster-torn areas—how much could that help both those in need as well as the relief workers in the area?” Mr. Farrar said.

“What if a mobile device could test the potability of water, or enable people in remote villages to access, manage or distribute scarce resources such as electricity or water?” 

Calling All Innovators challenges mobile application developers worldwide to create applications that will enhance the use of mobile devices in real world scenarios in one of three categories.

The first is ECO-Challenge.

Make a difference by submitting an application that will work to minimize mobility's global environmental impact and develop ways to offer mobile solutions that help consumers make sustainable choices such as reducing their energy consumption or carbon footprint.

The second is Emerging Markets.

This category opens up new opportunities for developers to imagine the possibilities of pioneering applications and services impacting the daily lives of millions in developing nations, which could include solutions for education, health data access, infotainment or rural agriculture.

The third is Technology Showcase.

This is an opportunity to create and showcase compelling, experience-driven applications, using any technology that runs on Series 40 or S60 devices, such as Flash Lite, Java, Python or open source.

From a single-purpose application to completely community driven, this developer's showdown will help open consumers' minds about what an application can do.   

First place winners in each category will receive $25,000, a trip to Mobile World Congress 2009 in Barcelona and distribution of their application for free through a variety of Nokia channels.

Second place winners in each category will receive $10,000 and third place winners will receive $5,000.

The contest opened on September 16, 2008 and all entries are due by December 15, 2008. Finalists will be selected and notified in January 2009.

More information about Forum Nokia's Calling All Innovators, including how to submit an application and complete contest rules and requirements, can be found online at.

Nokia's global developer program, Forum Nokia, connects developers to tools, technical information, support and distribution channels they can use to build and market applications worldwide.

Forum Nokia provides technical and business development support to developers and operators to assist them in launching applications and services to consumers and enterprises.
Nokia provides equipment and services for communications networks through Nokia Siemens Networks.

Forum Nokia receives thousands of idea submissions from around the world and this developer organization is set up into three key regions: Americas, EMEA and APAC.

“Inside each of those regions, Business Development people are actively seeking out the best applications for Nokia platforms possible,” Mr. Farrar said.

Here is an example of a developer who solved a problem he was facing by building a water pump application for his Nokia phone.

Last week Nokia held an announcement event at the Nokia Flagship Store, where Eric John, director of marketing for Forum Nokia, and Mr. Kamen spoke to the audience about the potential impact mobile applications could have in developing economies.

Nokia posted that video at http://www.callingallinnovators.com as well as on Nokia's media-sharing site, Share on Ovi, and YouTube.

“The ‘Get Training’ section will be updated to include actual examples from each category, with code snippets and scheduled 'Talk to the Guru' sessions,” Mr. Farrar said. “Talk to the Guru is a chance for developers to talk with an expert about a particular topic that they're interested in.”