Participate in Windows App Challenge Contest and Win One Assured Windows Phone

[shauvik]

devworx by Digit, in association with Microsoft is pleased to announce the Windows App Challenge contest. Windows Phones have gathered popular consumer as well as developer interest in recent times.

If you're an app developer, then you'd be pleased to know of exciting rewards that could be yours, if you only participate!

For your first 3 Windows Phone apps, you get a free Windows Phone!

Even if you haven't specialised in Windows Phone all this while, you still stand a chance to win your very own Windows Phone, if you port two Android or iPhone apps to Windows Phone.

We have special plans for women developers too. The first 100 women participants stand to win a Windows Phone for their first app successfully submitted.

Happy Coding!

Click here to participate!

[thetechfreak]

Word of caution

Microsoft has instituted a Developer
Sign Up Fee which is a payment of $99
required just before you publish the
App.

99 dollar is kind of steep.

[doomgiver]

and as a secondary requirement, the apps are supposed to say "damn you, you lousy android user", if it detects an android device in proximity.

[d6bmg]

Word of caution

99 dollar is kind of steep.

This is the reason which barring me from participating this contest. Otherwise, I would have.

[robbinghood]

They should have made the fee something like 10$ or better for free!

[shauvik]

Hi Guys... The developer sign up fee will get reimbursed in the form of Rs. 5,000 worth of gift vouchers to all successful developers who submit 3 Apps. It is mentioned on the prizes as well as the contest page. So, effectively, you get your $99 back and also get the guaranteed other gifts!

[surya2141]

Why is it not available for students ?
Doesn't that rule out a major demographic of Digit ?
Really unfair ://

[shauvik]

The contest that Digit is running is open to independent developers,companies that build apps. Further it is only open to Indian citizens, residing in India, aged 18 years or above.

[jpushkarh]

Submit or appear on app hub .... to receive gift vouchers ..
How they identify thinkdigit members ..? am I ?

BTW i am not a programmer .. But willing to be app developer .. should i go for it ...

any !dea of win phone model & gift voucher we will get ...

[tarey_g]

I cant see this contest on the contest page of digit website, is it still running ?
I made my first ever app today

[jalaj]

Shauvik, Can you please answer to my concerns below

1. Contest mentions Developer Signup fee $99, whereas Microsoft site says annual membership fee $99... Why this difference (ans: copied from previous Chrome challenge contest)

2. A mailer from you says "We have special submission options for women developers too. The first 100 women participants stand to win a Windows Phone for their first app successfully submitted."... Does it mean that each of the women gets Windows phone for their first app itself... or just 1 of the first 100 gets it for the first app itself...

3. If there is an contest end date extension, are you going to declare it beforehand or declare it after a month like in the previous contest...

4. In the previous contest all the 5 winners didn't deserve to be winner... and you passed the blame on Google... Who is going to judge the apps thsi time?

Remaining queries after recieving the replies to these...

[shauvik]

Submit or appear on app hub .... to receive gift vouchers ..
How they identify thinkdigit members ..? am I ?

BTW i am not a programmer .. But willing to be app developer .. should i go for it ...

any !dea of win phone model & gift voucher we will get ...

The Apps that you would submit to Windows Marketplace need to be certified and approved inorder to win the guaranteed prize. Of course, the published date should should fall between 03rd Jan-31st Jan.

If you register through Windows App Challenge Contest page hosted on thinkdigit, you will be considered as a Thinkdigit member. So, go ahead!

I cant see this contest on the contest page of digit website, is it still running ?
I made my first ever app today

Its there! Must have been some glitch!

Shauvik, Can you please answer to my concerns below

1. Contest mentions Developer Signup fee $99, whereas Microsoft site says annual membership fee $99... Why this difference (ans: copied from previous Chrome challenge contest)

2. A mailer from you says "We have special submission options for women developers too. The first 100 women participants stand to win a Windows Phone for their first app successfully submitted."... Does it mean that each of the women gets Windows phone for their first app itself... or just 1 of the first 100 gets it for the first app itself...

3. If there is an contest end date extension, are you going to declare it beforehand or declare it after a month like in the previous contest...

4. In the previous contest all the 5 winners didn't deserve to be winner... and you passed the blame on Google... Who is going to judge the apps thsi time?

Remaining queries after recieving the replies to these...

1. You are right. The sign up fee of $99 is an annual fee, which you may or may not renew, based on your interest next year.
2. Each of the women (first 100) gets a Windows phone for their first app submitted which should belong to the 6 mentioned themes.
3. Yes, we will declare it over here as well as on facebook and the contest page.
4. If the apps get certified and published on Windows marketplace during the contest date range, the participants will get guaranteed prizes, based on the options that he/she selects (like: submit 2 win, women's special and Port 2 Win).

All the best guys!

[tarey_g]

Well, this contest is only good for people who were already developing apps for wp7, 15 days left and normal approval process of app itself takes 2-4 weeks. Having 3 distinct ideas for apps that are not repeat of any app in the marketplace + Development time + Approval time, seems impossible.
Ideally attracting new developers for the platform is goal of such contests and new devs stand little or no chance here. Anyways, I hope many members from this forum participate.

[shauvik]

Well, this contest is only good for people who were already developing apps for wp7, 15 days left and normal approval process of app itself takes 2-4 weeks. Having 3 distinct ideas for apps that are not repeat of any app in the marketplace + Development time + Approval time, seems impossible.
Ideally attracting new developers for the platform is goal of such contests and new devs stand little or no chance here. Anyways, I hope many members from this forum participate.

Its never too late to get started. And most of the apps are getting approved within 2-3 days only. I hope you participate too.

[Dark Core]

..Developed 3 Apps and Submitted to Microsoft Marketplace,
Waiting for their approval, Fingers Crossed

[rajasekhar911]

T
which should belong to the 6 mentioned themes.

could you please point me to the page where it mentions the themes .
I can't find it in the t&c page?

thanks

[abhishek.130490]

How much time does it takes for app approval....
I am falling behind dates, is there any intention of extending the contest period.
If so do please notify as general and also not at the last moment...

Also what if my apps had got a similar counterpart. I mean I had an idea, but then I stumbled upon another similar app (not same but similar). Will that app pass the app approval....What I see on market place are too many 'HD wallpaper calender' with slight different pictures (if you know what I mean), then I would not have any problems regarding this. But there may be case. I just want to be sure of this.
Coz developer fee is kind of steep... It would be a waste if apps will not get approved...

Need Reply ASAP.

[dreatica]

..Developed 3 Apps and Submitted to Microsoft Marketplace,
Waiting for their approval, Fingers Crossed

Do share the approval period, I am not interested in FREE WP7 phone, got two of them for free from Nokia&Microsoft, and doesn't seems to be a good platform for me right now.

[garggaurav1995]

I didn't know about the Student limitation and have got my apps published via a student account
I searched a lot for a way to upgrade but it seems there is no such option available at app hub.
Student Windows Phone developers unable to migrate to full account? | wpcentral | Windows Phone News, Forums, and Reviews

Digit, can you please open up the contest for students too? I really see no reason why there should be a bar on students, as long as our apps are successfully published.

[tarey_g]

Also what if my apps had got a similar counterpart.

In T&C its written that the app should not be similar to other apps already existing in the marketplace. This is the reason I did not participate, three unique ideas in such small time , kinda tough.

[abhishek.130490]

In T&C its written that the app should not be similar to other apps already existing in the marketplace. This is the reason I did not participate, three unique ideas in such small time , kinda tough.

Well, I read all the points in T&C (roughly), I didn't see any point explicitly mentioning that. Maybe I am overlooking something. Would you be kind to point that out.

[tarey_g]

Here, second last point on the faq page
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions - Windows App Challenge Contest

Also note that these Windows Phone applications must be distinct and should have non-trivial utility value for the application user. In case the submitted applications are found to be “Spam” or close replicas of existing applications, these will not qualify for the program.

[abhishek.130490]

That's what is screwing me up. What does a close replica mean (to what extent). It would be helpful, if admin replies...

[shauvik]

Close replica means exactly the same functionality, same look and feel and infringement of someone's copyright idea/concept or design. Similar applications are accepted as long as they are different from the original version and offering something different proposition.

[abhishek.130490]

If I submit now(i.e in 1 or 2 days), will it be approved till 31st....

[shauvik]

If I submit now(i.e in 1 or 2 days), will it be approved till 31st....

Yes, it should get approved by 31st. Please go ahead!

[gopi_vbboy]

what do we get for 99$ sign up fee?i mean what benefits we get from MS?

[coolpcguy]

mean what benefits we get from MS?

There are no benefits. Every app developer who wishes to submit apps must signup for the developer account, which has a $99 annual fee.

[shauvik]

what do we get for 99$ sign up fee?i mean what benefits we get from MS?

This is what the prizes section say about this:

"Microsoft will reimburse the Developer Sign Up Fee in the form of Rs. 5,000 worth of gift vouchers to all successful developers who submit 3 Apps."

Hope this is what you wanted to know.

[gopi_vbboy]

This is what the prizes section say about this:

"Microsoft will reimburse the Developer Sign Up Fee in the form of Rs. 5,000 worth of gift vouchers to all successful developers who submit 3 Apps."

Hope this is what you wanted to know.

ya...thanks buddy