PayPal, in association with eBay and Yahoo, has opened its annual Development Challenge, in which developers are invited to create an innovative PayPal application. The winner will walk away with $100 000.
The prize for the South African winner is a fully paid trip to the Innovate Conference in San Francisco in October.
PayPal is looking for mobile and computer apps which can integrate payments, handle split payments, initiate refunds, obtain pre-approvals and help customers create all types of accounts. The application must also be fresh, marketable and innovative.
Examples of previous entries include innovations such as biometric analysis technology payment systems, offline payments, and transfers via text messaging.
Last year's winner Appbackr is the first wholesale digital marketplace for iPhone and iPad applications. Sam Zappas, a founder of Appbackr, said: “We highly recommend [the competition] for developers out there who want to get their app in the spotlight. PayPal recognised our innovative idea and continues to support us and our growth.”
FNB, PayPal's South African partner, is also involved, with GM Chris Savides heading the campaign.
“Even if you're not a developer,” Savides says, “submit your idea and we will find a developer for you. It's to find the best application.”
Savides unveiled one of the apps at the monthly 27dinner, which is specific to the iPhone. Two users transferring money to each other can log on, bump their phones together and become beneficiaries. Users can request payments, in addition to making and receiving them.
Naveed Anwar, senior director of PayPal's Developer Network, says early birds who sign up by 4 August could win an iPad.
There is also a voter's choice award in seven other categories, including categories such as best application by a university student and best application on the eBay platform.
Developers can go to the PayPal X Developer Network to submit their entries.
Share