With mobile penetration projections of about 9.7 billion globally, the world is moving towards a completely digital era. People are dependent on mobile gadgets to partake in everyday living and numerous apps have made this a convenient possibility.
With that in mind, Ericsson has announced the launch of its 2014 App Awards with key targets being students and small- and medium-sized enterprises from anywhere in the world to submit Android and iOS apps. The prize is worth EUR 25,000 and gives app developers the opportunity to be recognized on a global scale.
Mobile app development is increasingly changing the lives of Africans within the continent, apps such as M-Pesa which is a mobile-phone based money transfer and MedAfrica, an app which increases access to health care related information to the masses are some of the examples that have proven effective.
This competition will give developers the opportunity to gain a foothold in the app industry, while also earning recognition and making contacts within the telecom industry.
There will be two categories for this contest – one for students, and one for small- and medium-sized enterprises with fewer than 100 employees.
The theme of the 2014 competition is Apps for Working Life, in support of Ericsson’s vision of a Networked Society in which – through a combination of mobility, broadband, the cloud, applications and services – anything and everything is connected.
The winner of the student category in 2013 was Portugal’s GreenSpark, which offered a solution based on energy efficiency with a truly global reach. The UK’s TboxApps was the winner in the company category. Their solution was based on usage patterns in order to get access to instant messages and quickly get help.
In all, 192 teams took part in the 2013 competition (compared with 143 in 2012) from 52 countries.
Staff writer
