Ericsson Application Awards Competition kicks off across the Middle East

Ericsson today announced the launch of the Ericsson Application Awards Competition at the Ericsson Middle East Media Summit 2011 in Lebanon. The annual global application development competition will see students and small and medium sized enterprises (SME’s) develop applications on the Android platform (Web or Native) under the theme of the ‘Apps for the Networked Society’.

The competition was launched as part of Ericsson’s global academic engagement program as the company hopes to encourage innovation, discover talented developers and identify possible partnerships. For the Middle East and East Africa region, the competition will help spark new and innovative ideas that will bring the region closer to achieving optimum connectivity and becoming a truly ‘Networked Society.’

“We are in the midst of the evolution and journey towards the ‘Networked Society’ and there have already been some major changes to the way we communicate, work, and are entertained,” said Anders Lindblad, Ericsson’s President and Head of Region Middle East and East Africa. “With this transition already taking place, it is up to us to foster the talents of the new generation of developers and industry leaders. We are hoping that through the Ericsson Application Awards Competition, we are able to encourage them to develop applications that will make the transition to the ‘Networked Society’ smoother and more convenient.”

The competition was launched to an audience of key industry players including the CEOs of some of the leading telecommunications operators in the Middle East, as well as regional media representatives at the Ericsson Middle East Media Summit 2011.

The event was also attended by representatives from Lebanese universities including The Lebanese American University (LAU), The American University of Beirut (AUB), Notre Dame University (NDU), L’Université Saint-Joseph (USJ), Université Antonine (UPA), Université Saint-Esprit de Kaslik (USEK), Beirut Arab University (BAU) and the Lebanese University (LU). These representatives will then go back to their respective universities and inform students about the competition and encourage them to take part.

The competition is now officially open for submissions under two categories; student applicants and small and medium business enterprises. The competition winners will win €30,000 ($40,348) per category and the opportunity to gain exposure within the telecommunications industry and Ericsson’s partners.