MTN Opens Applications for MTN App Challenge Version 3.0

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David Narh, Innovations Manager at MTN, at the Final Roadshow in Accra.[/caption]

A lot of advocacy has been on encouraging telecommunications companies to engage the tech community through various initiatives. From various Vodafone initiatives, and Airtel recent App Challenge launch, the MTN App Challenge is probably the first of such initiatives, started about 2 years ago.

In its 3rd year since the Challenge’s inception, MTN has labeled this year’s as App Challenge Version 3.0 which opened up applications to developers at the Final Road Show in Accra, at the Kofi Annan Center for Excellence in ICT.

This year’s Challenge promises a total of GH¢224,000.00 in cash prizes from a total of 15 winners. The previous edition had a total of GH¢150,000.00.

There are three(3) rounds in this years’ submission and judging criteria. They are as follows:

Round 1:

• Submit concept document via appchallenge.mtn.com.gh

Round 2:

• Upload video and app unto MTN Play. Promote you app via social networks, to promote downloads for the next phase of judging.

Round 3:

• Top 40 downloaded apps on MTN Play appear before the judges. Assessment based on installs(30%) and already-defined criteria from judges(70%).
• 25 minutes given to each team to present before the panel of judges, and to answer questions.

Final announcements made at a separate ceremony and winners announced.

David Narh, Innovations Manager at MTN expressed his excitement at how mobile phones have made lives easier, stressing how important it was for developers to take advantage of the ease in building apps for smartphones to increase productivity. He encouraged developers to put their ideas to test by building them, and for non-developers to hire developers who can bring their ideas to life.

Isaac Onwukwe, a winner from last year and CEO of Trigger Pixels got into details of how developers should take best practices more seriously, and be meticulous about their code. He also detailed whole process from submission through judging explaining how the competition helped them gain their first 10,000 installs for the award-winning game, Tales of Hasan.

The deadline for the submission of mobile applications is November 29, which gives developers about 2 months to complete their work, submit them and promote them online.