Press Release.

Kenyan developers to compete to build innovative local Android mobile applications.

Nairobi 14th April 2011

Everyday more than 300,000 Android devices are activated globally. A growing  number of these mobile device activations are in markets across Africa,  making local African mobile content more relevant and important than  ever before. In recognition of this, Google today announced its Google Android Developer Challenge, inviting talented and creative developers in sub-Saharan Africa to design and build original Android applications for mobile phones that will delight users.

Categories

Entries include entertainment, media and games; social networking and communications; and productivity, tools and lifestyle. Winners will each receive an Android phone and $25,000 (USD).

“In the past year alone, we have met with over 10,000 developer and techies across Sub Saharan Africa. We are continually impressed by the ingenuity and enthusiasm of this community to solve real problems with technology, ” says Bridgette Sexton, Program Manager at Google. “At every Google event in Africa, Android is the most popular topic –  as Android users multiply, so does the appeal for developers to build apps on this free open source platform.”

A number of Android Developer Challenge events will also be held across the region. Google will be launching the Nairobi chapter on Saturday 16th April at the iHub from 11am. The event will provide mobile developers with a platform to talk about Android as well as an opportunity to learn about the competition. They will also get to do some hacking, collaborate and prepare themselves to build great apps. Registration forms for developers are available online.

Participants can submit applications via the challenge website by 1st July 2011. The winning application will be announced on September 12th 2011. More information can be found at the website.