STC launches Applications Award to support developers

In line with Saudi Telecom Co.'s (STC's) initiatives to support and engage with community activities as well as its technical vision, the company has supported an exceptional segment of consumers, represented by a generation of promising Saudi youth, by creating a unique environment for applications developers to showcase their apps according to exceptional foundations and standards set by STC, while focusing in particular on local and Arabic content as part of this collective initiative. STC has set aside a total of SR700,000 for this competition.
The company has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Bader at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology to develop and establish digital development centers throughout the Kingdom, where developers will be able to gather the latest information related to apps development as well as exchanging expertise with their peers. A series of workshops and forums will be organized to ensure that developers obtain the latest information on the most popular mobile applications, such as Android, Blackberry, Apple, Symbian, and Windows.
Accordingly, STC is cooperating with a number of international companies to support this initiative, including Microsoft, Nokia, RIM, and Qualcomm. Microsoft for instance has expressed its pleasure at supporting STC in its initiative with the developers' community, and the two companies will work hand in hand to create a strong community to develop the Windows software application, which will reinforce the future of apps development in the region. Microsoft commented that the Applications Award is one of the most important steps in efforts to raise the level of knowledge, creativity and quality in the field of application development.
Research In Motion (RIM) Middle East said: "The STC Applications Awards is a significant initiative which will to assist developers in the region to develop new skills of excellence and creativity in the world of mobile applications of BlackBerry platforms, and the smart devices BlackBerry PlayBook.