Android Developer Challenges
20 November 2007 – 14:33Cool apps that surprise and delight mobile users, built by developers like you, will be a huge part of the Android vision. To support you in your efforts, Google has launched the Android Developer Challenge, which will provide $10 million in awards—no strings attached—for great mobile apps built on the Android platform.
How It Works
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Cool apps that surprise and delight mobile users, built by developers like you, will be a huge part of the Android vision. To support you in your efforts, Google has launched the Android Developer Challenge, which will provide $10 million in awards—no strings attached—for great mobile apps built on the Android platform.
How It Works
The award money will be distributed equally between two Android Developer Challenges:
* Android Developer Challenge I: We will accept submissions from January 2 through March 3, 2008
* Android Developer Challenge II: This part will launch after the first handsets built on the platform become available in the second half of 2008
In the Android Developer Challenge I, the 50 most promising entries received by March 3 will each receive a $25,000 award to fund further development. Those selected will then be eligible for even greater recognition via ten $275,000 awards and ten $100,000 awards.
Build Your Favorite Mobile Application
We welcome all types of applications but are looking to reward innovative, useful apps that make use of Android’s capabilities to deliver a better mobile experience. Here are some suggested areas of focus to get you started:
* Social networking
* Media consumption, management, editing, or sharing, e.g., photos
* Productivity and collaboration such as email, IM, calendar, etc.
* Gaming
* News and information
* Rethinking of traditional user interfaces
* Use of mash-up functionality
* Use of location-based services
* Humanitarian benefits
* Applications in service of global economic development
* Whatever you’re excited about!
Getting Started
- Build your applications
- Submit your applications (between January 2 and March 3, 2008). A submission form will be available on this page starting on January 2, 2008.
More Information
- Android Developer Challenge FAQ
- Subscribe to the Android Developer Blog for updates on the Android Developer Challenge
- Discuss the challenge with others
- Learn more about the Open Handset Alliance
The Android Developer Challenge FAQ
What is the Android Developer Challenge?
The Android Developer Challenge is a Google-sponsored program that will provide $10 million in total awards for the best mobile apps built on the Android platform.
Why is Google launching the Android Developer Challenge?
A thriving developer community will be an important part of creating better mobile experiences that delight users around the world. We want to support and recognize developers who build great applications for devices based on Android.
How is the Android Developer Challenge organized?
There will be two parts to the Android Developer Challenge. Android Developer Challenge I will accept submissions from January 2 to March 3, 2008. The Android Developer Challenge II will launch after the first handsets built on the platform become available in the second half of 2008.
What kind of applications are you looking for?
We welcome all types of applications but are looking to reward innovative, useful apps that make use of Android’s capabilities to deliver a better mobile experience. Here are some suggested areas of focus to get you started:
* Social networking
* Media consumption, management, editing, or sharing, e.g., photos
* Productivity and collaboration such as email, IM, calendar, etc.
* Gaming
* News and information (weather, traffic, sports, stocks, etc.)
* Rethinking of traditional user interfaces
* Use of mash-up functionality
* Use of location based services
* Humanitarian benefits (monitoring and response for diseases, climate change, natural disasters, etc.)
* Applications in service of global economic development for the 3 billion people living on less than $2.00 per day
* Whatever you’re excited about!
What kind of awards will you provide?
The $10 million in awards will be given out as cash awards—no strings attached. The total will be distributed equally between the Android Developer Challenge I and II. In the Android Developer Challenge I, the 50 most promising entries will each receive a $25,000 award to fund further development. These 50 entries will then be eligible for even greater recognition via ten awards worth $275,000 each and and another ten worth $100,000 each.
We will announce the structure for Challenge II at a later date.
How will you evaluate the applications for awards?
Applications will be evaluated on how well they use Android’s capabilities to deliver a better mobile experience for users.
Who decides who will receive awards from the Android Developer Challenge?
Judging of submissions will be by panels of Open Handset Alliance members and/or mobile experts. More information on the judging criteria will be available in the Terms and Conditions when they are made available, which will be on or before the date the submission page is made available to developers.
Can I submit more than one application?
Yes. Of course, quality over quantity is what we recommend.
Will I continue to own my application after I submit it to the Android Developer Challenge?
Developers retain all intellectual property and other rights to their applications while granting Google a license to evaluate and test the application for purposes of the Challenge as well as a license to display the application to promote the Android platform. More information will be provided when we make the Terms and Conditions available.
Does my application have to have an English language user interface?
Applications may be built in any language, but submissions must at a minimum support English language use.
Who’s eligible to participate?
* The Android Developer Challenge is open to individuals, teams of individuals, and business entities. While we seek to make the Challenge open worldwide, we cannot open the Challenge to residents of Cuba, Iran, Syria, North Korea, Sudan, and Myanmar (Burma) because of U.S. laws. In addition, the Challenge is not open to residents of Italy or Quebec because of local restrictions.
* You must be of legal age in your country of residence in order to participate.
* Employees of Google, members of the Open Handset Alliance, or affiliated companies are ineligible to participate.
* For more information, please see the complete set of Terms and Conditions when they become available.
How do I participate?
1. Download the SDK
2. Start coding
3. Keep up to date with the latest developments by subscribing to the Android Developer Blog
4. Submit your application between January 2 and March 3, 2008
5. Have fun!
What are the deadlines?
* January 2, 2008: Start date for application submissions for Android Developer Challenge I
* March 3, 2008: End date for application submissions
* Late March, 2008: $25,000 awards are announced for 50 most promising entries
* May 1, 2008: Deadline for 50 eligible entries to apply for additional $275,000 and $100,000 awards
* Late May, 2008: $275,000 and $100,000 awards are announced
* Second half, 2008: Android Developer Challenge II launched
Do you anticipate any updates to these guidelines?
Please expect the complete set of Terms and Conditions for the Android Developer Challenge I in the near future.
How can I get more information?
Subscribe to the Android Developer Blog for the latest news on Android and the Android Developer Challenge. You can also contact us with your questions via our Google Group.
