Research In Motion (RIM) is running the first BlackBerry App Master SA Challenge.
Local mobile app developers are being asked to create innovative applications for the new BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, using PlayBook-compatible tools such as Adobe Flash, Adobe AIR and BlackBerry Webworks.
The winner will be given the chance to take their work to the international stage with a trip to San Francisco, to attend the BlackBerry Developer Conference (Devcon) 2011. The “App Master” will also receive a BlackBerry PlayBook.
Devcon is an annual developer community event that showcases what can be done with BlackBerry apps.
“It's the place to get technical, code-driven information that can be applied to projects; the place where new tools and technologies can be experienced for the first time; the place for getting your questions answered, or finding the inspiration to go further with mobile applications than you ever imagined possible,” says RIM.
Applications for the challenge can be designed in any one of the following categories: productivity (business, productivity and finance); fun and games (entertainment and utilities); knowledge (education, reference and e-books, and health and wellness); sharing (instant messaging and social networking); navigate and explore (maps, travel and shopping); multimedia (music and audio, photo and video) and finally any applications that keep users up to date with the latest information (including news, sports and weather).
PlayBook in the market
The PlayBook was released in stores in the US this week, but sales have been disappointing and the device has been struggling to win over consumers.
The device does, however, boast a powerful operating system and retains RIM's BlackBerry security, which has been its major selling point to the enterprise.
The Mobility 2011 brand momentum calculations showed a strong move towards smartphones in the South African market, and BlackBerry in particular, with 24% of respondents in the current mobile market claiming their next phone will be a BlackBerry. BlackBerry currently accounts for 4% of the market.
The growing mobile market share of BlackBerry in the country could provide the necessary selling point for the PlayBook locally, due to the tethering of BlackBerry phones to the tablet.
App World growth
BlackBerry App World is said to have reported very high growth, and is now present in over 100 countries, with about 20 000 apps, and 200 million downloads everyday.
Entries in the BlackBerry App Master Challenge will be judged on functionality, efficiency and compliance. Entrants can upload their wireframes to the competition Web site before 31 May. For more information on the challenge, visit www.blackberryappmaster.co.za.
Google is also running a developer challenge for sub-Saharan Africa, where entrants stand the chance to win $25 000 and an Android phone.
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