Forum Nokia names 3 finalists from APAC

BANGALORE, INDIA: Nokia's global developer program, Forum Nokia, which connects developers to tools, technical information, support, and distribution channels for developers, today announced that three of the eleven finalists of Calling All Innovators, a global mobile application development competition to positively impact the quality of life on the planet, came from APAC.

Nearly 1,000 developers answered Nokia's challenge to think big and create mobile applications and services that can help build a better world, said a press release

Nokia will award up to US $ 150,000 in cash and prizes to the ultimate winners, in addition to helping the winning developers distribute their mobile applications worldwide.

The Calling All Innovators website received more than 246,382 unique visitors and more than 12,000 developers from around the world registered with Forum Nokia, the world's largest mobile developer community, in connection with the contest, said the release.

"The global interest in Calling All Innovators exceeded all expectations. Developers went above and beyond with a variety of innovations demonstrating real potential to impact the future of our world," said Miikka Nevasalo, director, Forum Nokia Asia.

Applicants rose to the challenge issued by Dean Kamen, technology pioneer and best known for inventing the Segway PT and for founding FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an organization which inspires high school students worldwide to study science and technology.

The category finalist of the contest from APAC are ECO-Challenge, Green Phone, Emerging Markets, Nano Ganesh, Technology Showcase, Neuscreen.

All the finalists will receive paid travel and accommodations to Mobile World Congress, the release added.

First place winners in each category will receive USD 25,000 and distribution of their winning applications for free through a variety of Nokia channels. Second place winners in each category will receive USD 10,000 and third place winners will receive USD 5,000, the release added.