Microsoft Gulf announced the launch of an exciting competition with the official launch of the Middle East and Africa) Windows Phone 7 Challenge in the region. Held in the region for the first time, the MEA Windows Phone 7 Challenge is a student technology contest which has been conceived to attract entries from students across the Middle East and Africa region to develop Windows Phone 7 compatible applications.
As part of this competition, contestants need to send innovative contest entries based on Microsoft Windows Phone technologies that address the theme: “Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems.” This will involve the creation of an original XAP Application package in Silverlight or XNA Game Studio. For more information and to enter the competition to win attractive prizes, contestants can visit www.meawp7challenge.com.
The Contest is split into five Rounds with the fifth round being the final round to select the eventual winner. The last date for contest entries is on April 20th 2011. A panel of qualified judges with knowledge and experience in software development will review all eligible entries received and select the winning teams based upon criteria revolving around originality and innovation, Visual XAP Appeal, Consumer XAP Appeal and unique mobile-oriented features.
“The MEA Windows Phone 7 challenge is a wonderful opportunity for talented students from across the Arab world who can use this competition as a showcase for their creativity and innovation to develop the best applications on Windows Phone 7,” said Amintas Neto, MEA Academic Relations Lead.
“For Microsoft, this is another opportunity for us to highlight our commitment to supporting student talent in technology development to create advanced IT skills across the region.”
Since its global rollout, Windows Phone 7 has attracted rave reviews from consumers around the world and in the region. For Microsoft, Windows Phone 7 represents an ambitious effort to deliver a fundamentally different kind of phone – one designed for an increasingly sophisticated and demanding consumer that is as engaged with their personal life as they are with work.