Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Forum Nokia Calling All Innovators South Afica contest all about?
Calling All Innovators Africa contest is a developer competition that challenges developers to create applications and services that will enhance the use of mobile devices in Africa in real-world scenarios.

We challenge mobile and web application developers to submit applications, widgets, or content of local African interest. This includes any content within Ovi Store content categories (Applications & Widgets, Video, Personalization, Games, Audio, Flash & Active idle widgets, Location based applications, Podcasts). Learn more about the contest.

2. Who can participate in the contest?
The Calling All Innovators Africa contest is open to all mobile and web application developers worldwide. Nokia employees are not eligible to participate in this contest.

3. How do I submit my application for the contest?
It's very easy to participate in the Calling All Innovators Africa contest. First, read the requirements on the about the contest page. You will need to upload the content directly to Ovi Store in any of the Ovi Store content categories and then submit the content item number on-line. Preferred entry to the competition is though Ovi Store publishing. However, if you are not able to register as an Ovi publisher or the application cannot be uploaded to Ovi Store due to Symbian Signing or Java Verifying, the content can be submitted to the competition directly. Describe your solution, along with any supporting materials (such as a demo video, whitepaper, etc.) explaining your application and its relevance.

4. What are the important dates for the Forum Nokia Calling All Innovators contest?

Contest starts: 16 July 2009.
Submission deadline: Midnight (GMT+2) on November 15th 2009
Announcement of winners: 10 December 2009.

5. What are the prizes for the contest?
The total cash and prizes for the 2009 Calling All Innovators Africa contest are worth more than $125,000. The top submissions will receive a cash award, and prizes that include premium placement featuring the winning application on Nokia's newly announced Ovi Store, where consumers will find the best mobile applications and content for their Nokia devices. The Grand Prize winner will also receive paid travel to demo the winning application at a Nokia-specified event.

Judge's Choice Award:
The top 10 submissions will receive the "Judge's Choice Award", which provides a one-year membership in Forum Nokia Launchpad (value of 300 euros). All Forum Nokia Launchpad members receive access to exclusive resources and support. It is designed to accelerate mobile application development and elevate developer's business visibility in the mobile world. Get more information about Forum Nokia Launchpad.

More detailed information about the prizes can be found on the Judging and Awards page.

6. How will you evaluate the mobile applications and services submitted to the contest?
A panel of judges will review all of the contest entries, and choose the finalists and winners according to the following criteria:

Quality / Functionality: the application or service must be fully functional and run successfully on Nokia devices and platforms (S60 and/or Series 40).
Uniqueness, novelty value and innovativeness: display creativity in applications, use established technology in a unique way.
Usability / Creativity: leverage latest technologies to demonstrate superior design and ease of use (UI, graphics, etc.)
African relevancy: ability to fulfill users' needs, customer adoption.

7. Who decides who will receive the prizes?
The winners will be selected by a panel of Nokia appointed judges, based on the criteria of creativity and innovativeness; ease of use and design; quality and functionality; and commercial viability and market potential. For more information, see the details about Judging and Awards.

8. Which tools should I use to create applications, widgets, or services, and where can I get them?
You can find tools, documentation, training and much more at the Forum Nokia web site. It's free to join, and when you register as a member, you can make the most of Nokia's extensive development, testing, signing, go to market, and community resources.

Forum Nokia provides everything you need to get started with developing applications, content, or services for Nokia devices.

To create widgets and mobile web services, check out the web technologies tools and documentation.

To get started with Flash Lite, please explore Forum Nokia's Flash Lite section.

Forum Nokia also provides several tools, documents, code and examples to help develop applications for the Series 40 platform and for the S60 platform.

9. Can I submit more than one application to the contest?
Yes, as many as you like.