South African cellular operator Vodacom is calling all local applications developers to join a new programme aimed at supporting and nurturing homegrown talent in apps development.
Just over a month after flinging open the virtual doors of its first apps store, Vodacom is now launching a programme to support local mobile apps developers and to ensure that those of them that develop apps to help South Africans will get maximum access to consumers.
The Vodacom Apps Store, which was launched on September 1, 2011, is the first multiple platform mobile operator application store in Africa. The store features a catalogue of over 140 000 Appia-powered applications that are supported over all major platforms, including Android, BlackBerry, Java and Symbian. The store has reached more than 100 000 downloads in its first month, the cellular company says.
This immediate success of the app store has inspired the cellular operator to launch the Vodacom Developer Programme (VDP), to partner and collaborate with the local developer community, providing them with technical and commercial support such as training, workshops and innovation incentives.
The VDP will launch on October 7, 2011 at the Protea Fire and Ice Hotel in Melrose Arch in Johannesburg from 6 – 9 pm, and in Cape Town on October 10, 2011, at Vodacom’s main auditorium in Century City from 6 – 9 pm. Entry is free. Those who attend will have the opportunity to mingle with the most renowned industry specialists in the mobile apps marketplace; discuss tools to monetize apps, identify training opportunities in the mobile apps environment and gain insight into Vodacom’s innovation incentives and available technical and commercial support.
“We see the Apps store as the embryo of an ecosystem. We’re looking forward to building a network of successful local developers, so they can help develop apps that help South Africans,” says Prins Mhlanga, Managing Executive of Digital Media at Vodacom. “We’re looking forward to building a network of successful local developers, so they can help develop apps that help South Africans. With our apps initiative, we hope to complement and enhance this already vibrant community.”
The fact that the Vodacom Apps Store is not restricted to just one mobile platform, provides more opportunities for developers. Says Mhlanga: “The opportunities for further development in the Vodacom Apps Store are significant considering it also supports all major platforms including Android, BlackBerry, Java, Symbian and Windows Mobile.”
To register for the VDP visit Vodacom Website.
