14 DAY TRIAL // The number of applications available on the Windows Phone Marketplace has been increasing at a steady pace over the past year, but Microsoft continues to work to drive growth even further.
The latest move from the Redmond company is to bring back the “Idea of the Week” contest, an invitation for students to create Windows Phone application concepts for a chance at winning no less than 12 Grand Prizes consisting of a $50 Amazon Gift Card each.
The contest is not exactly something new, as students have already had the chance to submit their Windows Phone app projects in a past edition, so there are bound to be some already familiar with the challenge.
In order to get a chance at winning one of the dozen prizes the software giant is offering, students need to follow the guidance detailed by Microsoft’s Ben Lower:
“Make sure you’re signed up for DreamSpark (www.dreamspark.com)
Download Expression Studio (from DreamSpark and free of charge for students) and the Sketchflow Template for Windows Phone from http://wp7sketchflow.codeplex.com
Create a Sketchflow prototype of your app idea and post the prototype online
Tweet out the link to your prototype using the hashtag “#wpappitup”. For example, “Check out my idea, UltimateApp, at http://www.findyourcolony.com #wpappitup”.”
The contest already started in mid-October 2011, but there’s plenty of time for students to enter, as Microsoft revealed that the end date is December 25, 2011.
According to the software giant, the “Idea of the Week” contest is opened to students around the world, with the exception of those in the following countries: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria.
Lower notes that winning Windows Phone app concepts will be judged in accordance with three criteria:
“1.Innovation (40%): How innovative is the idea? It does something new or does it accomplish something in a new way?
2.Experience (40%): Since this is a prototype, we don’t expect the UX to be polished. However, we are looking for a quality experience in the flow of the app. Does it feel seamless and like a native experience on Windows Phone?
3.Potential (20%): Does the app idea have potential in the market (lots of users, making money, both) or not?”