Nokia calls on local developers to participate in this initiative to showcase their talents.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - Nokia – the world leader in mobility, driving the transformation and growth of the converging Internet and communications industries has announced today the start of the N97 Widget Challenge for local developers which will be used for the local content of Ovi Store and N97.
According to Mr. Benoit Nalin, General Manager of Nokia Indochina, “Vietnam has a big pool of developers that grow at an impressive annual rate of 30-40% (*). They have tremendous talent and this is a great chance for them to showcase their creativity and technical know-how as well as to easily connect with consumers through our Ovi Store.”

The N97 Widget Challenge is an initiative co-organized by Nokia, Visky Centre - FPT, and IDG Ventures Vietnam, challenging all local developers to transform consumer-focused ideas into real applications on the latest platform of Nokia N97 device using technologies that include Nokia web Runtime, XHTML, CSS, Jaca Script, AJAX, widgets, and other standards-based web technologies. Focusing on widget but the Challenge is also extended to other applications that work on N97 device. Creative developers and designers are encouraged to build compelling applications that expand the capabilities and user benefits of Flash Lite.

Here’s what to do to get started:
1.    Decide which category best fits your skills and interests, and then get the needed tools, documentation, and other support from Forum Nokia. It’s free to join, and when you become a member of Forum Nokia, you can make the most of Nokia’s extensive development, testing, signing, go-to-market, and community resources.

2.    Create your application or widget – or optimize your website – for Nokia N97 device.

3.    Submit your best work to Forum Nokia on or before the deadline at midnight on September 30, 2009.

The Widget Design Challenge runs from June 9, 2009 until September 30, 2009. Announcement of winners shall be made known in November 2009. Out of the 35 entries which will be selected in the qualifying round, 10 entries shall be chosen in the final rounds with the following prizes:

1.    1st Prize: N97 and 3,000 USD
2.    2nd Prize: N97 and 2000 USD
3.    3rd Prize: N97 and 1,000 USD

The 7 others shall receive 300 USD each and insightful consultation with the judges in order to improve their work further for submission and support in publishing on Ovi.

“Furthermore, this Widget Challenge is basically a peek into how everyone and not just developers can now transform the internet into OUR INTERNET. As convergence is real in our life, everyone now wants to be deeply involved in everything they do and have, and having the power to be able to create things our way which is shown through this contest is what we now call personal internet.” Mr. Nalin shared.

About Nokia N97

The Nokia N97 is the first Nokia Nseries handset to have a widget for Ovi Store giving one-touch access to a whole new world of personalized media and applications. It has QWERTY keyboard and resistive touch screen with 3.5 inch display.  Furthermore, the Nokia N97 has all the powerful features you come to expect of the Nseries – great voice, entertainment, imaging and applications – but now with greater emphasis - in concept and design - on a deeper personal Internet experience, it moves into the territory of a true mobile computer.