Vodafone and Nokia sponsor developer competitions

VODAFONE HAS KICKED OFF a competition to find the best available mobile widgets, offering developers the chance to get their mitts on some €100,000 in prize money.

The firm has spent most of the day talking up its new 360 mobiles at its developer event and has been parading the little beauties around in front of interested parties like a proud parent. Now it is looking to foster software development for them.

The AppStar competition will run in two phases. In the first phase, developers from around the world will submit their mobile apps or widgets for evaluation by a panel of judges. Three winning entries in each market will be chosen based on their quality of user experience, innovation and value to the customer.

The developers responsible for the top three mobile widgets in each market region will be awarded prize money of €25,000, €15,000 and €10,000 for coming first, second and third, respectively. The winner in each region will be put up against seven other local winners from throughout the firm's main European markets.

This second phase will take place in 2010 and the overall winner will grab an extra €75,000, bringing their total winnings up to €100,000.

Developers are asked to write applications based on the Joint Innovation Lab (JIL) Software Developer Kit, which can found here.

IN OTHER NEWS, NOKIA is asking UK developers to step forward and take part in its Calling All Innovators competition, which it announced today at its inaugural Ovi Developer Open Day in the UK.

This competition has five divisions and coders are expected to come up with apps and content that fall under categories, which include social location; business and productivity; and communications.

The overall winner across all five categories will get both £20k and the joy of seeing their application on Nokia's Ovi Store.

Submissions for Nokia's contest will be accepted until 30 November and the winners will be announced by 31 December. µ