STC launches “Applications Award” To Support Developers

In line with 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 SR 700,000 for this competition.
The company has also signed a memorandum of understanding with ‘Bader’ at King Abdelaziz 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: “We are delighted to support the developers program at STC, and we are working together to support programs of developers and building of applications in the region. 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 ™. ”
Nokia Corporation in Saudi Arabia also stated that: “STC’s application developers’ community initiative is complementary to Nokia’s efforts over the past three years to enhance the standards of creativity and technological skills among developers in the region, and to enrich Arabic content in the various mobile operating systems”. He added that Nokia, through its cooperation with STC and Microsoft, aims to build a thriving environment to create unprecedented opportunities in the Saudi market.
The launch of this award underscores STC’s confidence in young developers and in their ability to design exceptional apps, and to participate in the building of a prosperous society, by continually introducing and encouraging the development of new, high quality apps. STC will offer financial rewards as part of this competition, which is part of the company policy of supporting and servicing the community and ambitious groups. The company is also proud of its continued leadership efforts to engage and coordinate with all segments of society, to support development projects, on top of the company’s proud record of participating in social responsibility and community service programs on all levels.