14 DAY TRIAL // The same day Sony Ericsson announced its 2008 Content Awards, Nokia also unveiled a contest revolved around creating mobile content. More exactly, via the Forum Nokia global developer program, the Finnish company is launching "Calling All Innovators."
This is a contest that asks all developers around the world to create mobile applications that can positively affect the quality of human life. To attract as many contestants as possible, Nokia is offering prizes totaling up to $150,000.
The contest organizers will receive submissions until December 15 this year and there are three categories: ECO-Challenge, Emerging Markets and Technology Showcase. To enter the competition you must visit the official website, found at this address.
One of the supporters of Calling All Innovators is Dean Kamen, the renowned American inventor and founder of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). "For over 15 years," Dean Kamen says, "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. 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."
Tom Libretto, vice president at Forum Nokia, added, "With Nokia's belief in social responsibility, we support Dean Kamen's relentless pursuit to help the world through the use of technology. Calling All Innovators is not just about making mobile applications that could help society; it's about developing mobile applications that will help society. 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?"
The Calling All Innovators finalists will be announced in January 2009. Each of the three category winners will receive: $25,000 in cash, the chance to visit Mobile World Congress 2009 and the chance to promote their winning application via Nokia's distribution channels. Second and third place Winners will receive $10,000 and $5,000 respectively.