Technology

Kenyan wins Sh8.3million in Nokia app contest

james mwai

James Mwai during Mobile Monday event at the iHub. Mr Mwai won Sh8million (75,000 euros) after his mobile application was voted the best in one of the categories and shared the top spot in another category with a Colombian in a global developers’ contest. Photo| Courtesy

A Kenyan has won Sh8million (75,000 euros) after his mobile application was voted the best in one of the categories and shared the top spot in another category with a Colombian in a global developers’ contest.

Mr James Mwai beat hundreds of developers around the globe with his application dubbed ‘AroundMe’ in the Nokia Create for Millions challenge ‘I know’ category.

There were four categories in total and winners attracted a top prize money of Sh5.4 million (50,000 euros) in each category.

His application also tied in a special category with a Colombian forcing him to share the other 50,000 euros, bringing his total catch to 75,000 euros, translating to approximately Sh8.3 million at the current exchange rates.

He shared the ‘Best Series 40 Web App’ award with Colombia’s David Bello.

Mr Bello developed an application known as HeatMap. The contest categories wereIn the know, emotional closeness, access to knowledge andfun and games.

The winners of the contest that attracted over 1,200 submissions were announced at the Mobile World Congress 2012 which is underway in Spain.

Nokia’s President and Chief Executive told participants at the conference that his company was pursuing partnerships with application developers to have their creations on its platform to help boost its status as the third ecosystem after apple and android.

“We are looking for ways of monetising these applications. Already we have put in place about 150 operator billing points across the world,” Mr Elop said.

Mwai’s application beat the ten other finalists shortlisted in the ‘I Know’ category.

AroundMe assists users to find businesses and services in their vicinity or any other location with a Nokia phone.

His application is said to be one of the most popular Kenyan apps in the Nokia Store having attracted over 250,000 downloads.

In addition to the prize money, the winning apps will be promoted globally in various Nokia-owned channels.

The developers will also receive a free user experience consultation from Nokia. Winners will also receive support from a top design agency to create Spotlight banners featuring the winning apps.

Other winners include Mr Patric Nordström from Sweden with a location-based App known as Locago. Germany’s Alexander Fürgut won in the touch based app category with an application dubbed Sandbox.

Mr Mwai has enhanced Kenya’s status as the Silicon Valley of Africa coming in the footsteps of several other Kenyan’s who have won international recognition.

In other contests at the conference, Safaricom was crowned in the Best product, initiative or service for undeserved segments in the Global Mobile Awards conducted by GSMA.

Samsung took the best smartphone award with its Samsung Galaxy S II phone while Nokia emerged tops for the best feature or entry level pone with its Nokia C3-00.