MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (November 12, 2007) –
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) today announced the Android Developer Challenge,
which will provide $10 million to developers who build mobile
applications for Android™, the first complete, open, and free mobile
platform. The Challenge is designed to support the developer community
and spark innovation on the Android platform by awarding cash prizes
ranging from $25,000 to $275,000 to developers whose applications are
picked by a panel of judges.
"We've built some interesting applications for Android but the best
applications are not here yet and that's because they're going to be
written by developers," said Sergey Brin, Co-founder and President,
Technology, Google. "We'd like to reward these developers and recognize
them as much as possible."
"We believe that the Android platform offers developers a unique
opportunity to create truly innovative mobile software," said Andy
Rubin, Google's director of mobile platforms. "We're challenging
developers to stretch their imaginations and skills to leverage the
full capabilities of this new platform and to create something amazing."
Android was announced on November 5 by the Open Handset Alliance™, a
group of more than 30 technology and mobile industry leaders committed
to fostering innovation on mobile phones and offering a better consumer
experience. The Alliance will provide developers with a new level of
openness that enables them to work more collaboratively. Today, the
Alliance released an early look at the Android software developer kit
(SDK) that includes the documentation, sample projects, development
tools, emulator, and libraries that developers will need to build an
Android application. Today's Android SDK announcement can be found on
the Alliance blog: http://android-developers.blogspot.com.
The $10 million total in the Android Developer Challenge will be
distributed equally between the Android Developer Challenge I and II.
Submissions for Challenge I will be accepted from January 2 through
March 3, 2008, and the 50 most promising entries will be recognized by
end of March with each receiving $25,000 awards to fund further
development. These 50 entries will then be eligible for even greater
recognition by applying by May 1, 2008 for ten awards worth $275,000
each and another ten worth $100,000 each. Recognition for the top apps
among those entries will be announced by end of May 2008. Challenge II
will launch after the first handsets built on the platform become
available in the second half of 2008.
A panel of technology and mobile experts selected from the Open
Handset Alliance member organizations and the industry in general will
judge all qualifying entries. Awards will be given to the developers
whose applications leverage all that the Android platform has to offer
in order to provide consumers with the most compelling experiences.
Developers retain all intellectual property and other rights to their
applications. Interested developers should:
1. Download the SDK at http://code.google.com/android/download.html
2. Build a great app.
3. Submit an application between January 2 and March 3, 2008.
Additional information about the Android Developer Challenge can be found at http://code.google.com/android/adc.html
About Google Inc.
Google's innovative search technologies connect millions of people
around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by
Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a
top Web property in all major global markets. Google's targeted
advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable
results, while enhancing the overall Web experience for users. Google
is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the
Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com.