A new swing has been added to the BlackBerry Partners fund developer challenge this year. Rather than just building apps, developers are now being challenged to build "super apps". The stakes this year are higher, the prizes are better and the challenge should be rather exciting by the DevCon 2010 rolls around. Read on for the full details on the years challenge.
Total prize package valued at over US$1.5 Million
ORLANDO, FL – April 28, 2010 – WES 2010 – BlackBerry Partners Fund today launched the third annual BlackBerry Partners Fund™ Developer Challenge. This year, the Challenge will focus on “Super Apps” and asks developers to showcase applications that take advantage of the BlackBerry® Application Platform’s unique capabilities.
With the international growth of the BlackBerry developer community, this Challenge will be the first to recognize BlackBerry® smartphone applications on a regional basis across four global regions – North America, Latin America, Europe/Middle East/Africa and Asia Pacific. Applications can be submitted to the Challenge starting today and entries will be accepted until September 6, 2010. To apply, visit here and complete the application form.
Both newly developed and existing applications can be entered into this year’s BlackBerry Partners Fund Developer Challenge. Judges will evaluate applications submitted in seven categories: Productivity, Fun & Games, Knowledge, Sharing, Navigate & Explore, Multi-media, and In the Know. Regional Selections will be notified the week of September 27, 2010. Regional Semi-Finalists in each category will be named by November 1, 2010. Regional Winners and Regional Finalists will be announced on November 18, 2010.
“The BlackBerry Partners Fund Developer Challenge has grown and evolved over the last three years and this year we will be rewarding the BlackBerry developer community at many levels to benefit more developers than ever before,” said Kevin Talbot, Co-managing Partner at BlackBerry Partners Fund. “BlackBerry Partners Fund is celebrating innovation that can only be achieved on the BlackBerry Application Platform, by creating apps that people cannot live without.”
Developers of applications selected at each finalist level will receive unique prizes to support their development on the BlackBerry Platform and to help them achieve commercial success. Up to four Regional Winners will each receive a prize pack valued at USD$85,000, including application promotion services, BlackBerry smartphones, BlackBerry App World™ marketing support, an Elite membership in the BlackBerry® Alliance Program and more. The prizes are made possible with the help of members of the BlackBerry Developer Services community – including 151 Ventures, App-Promo, DeviceAnywhere, Medialocate, Mob4Hire, and Perfecto Mobile – who are providing numerous services to participants in this year’s BlackBerry Partners Fund Developer Challenge.
Up to 28 Regional Semi-Finalists will each receive prize packages worth over USD$16,000 and up to twelve Regional Finalists will each receive prize packages valued at almost USD$35,000. Up to 400 Regional Selections will receive a free BlackBerry smartphone for submitting their application into the Challenge.
Applications will be judged on quality, user experience and how effectively they have incorporated “Super App” characteristics. The BlackBerry Application Platform allows developers to quickly and easily build applications that seamlessly share information and interact with core BlackBerry applications or other third party applications. These applications are personalized and contextualized and can integrate with a BlackBerry smartphone's inbox, calendar, address book and other native BlackBerry applications to deliver a highly engaging user experience. Last year’s winners included 7Digital and FierceTowers.
Information Links
For more information on the BlackBerry Partners Fund Developer Challenge, please visit http://www.blackberrypartnersfund.com/2010challenge.
For more information on developing “Super Apps” on the BlackBerry Application Platform, please visit www.blackberry.com/developers/superapps.
For more information on the BlackBerry Developer Conference 2010, please visit www.blackberrydeveloperconference.com.
About BlackBerry Partners Fund
The BlackBerry Partners Fund™ is designed to deliver superior returns on the compelling investment opportunity in applications, services and supporting infrastructure for the BlackBerry® and other mobile platforms. The Fund's mandate is based on the premise that in the future smartphones will be powerful portable computers for use at home, work, and leisure. The Fund invests in companies developing applications that make smartphones a compelling platform for media, commerce, enterprise, entertainment, and lifestyle applications. The Fund is global in scope and will consider all stages of development. For further information visit: www.blackberrypartnersfund.com.
