Nokia Invites Ugandan Software Developers

Nokia has invited Ugandan software developers to submit their works on
its Internet based platform –Nokia Forum, to win up to Shs68 million.
The invitation offers the software developers a chance to tap into
Nokia global mobile phones market share to earn income.

Ms Dorothy Ooko, the communications manager corporate functions in
East and Southern Africa, told the Kampala Daily Monitor that Nokia
was hunting for software developers in the East African states to give
them a chance to earn the money.
"We are calling on local software developers in Uganda to register
with Forum Nokia and develop applications," Ms Ooko said in interview
last week.

She said any software or application developers in Uganda who
understand the nation's context or information needs can use the
www.forum.nokia platform to showcase their creativity, be voted for
and stand a chance to earn 70 per cent of revenue from the use of the
applications by Nokia phone customers across the world.

She said, all that a participant needs to do is register both his or
her details and application with Nokia for free.
"If your application wins, we put that application on our devices and
everyone can access it on our Ovi store at a certain fee," Ms Ooko
said.

Ovi Store is an evolving media service that consolidates Nokia's
existing content services into a one-stop-shop for free and paid
content.

According to the communication specialist, Nokia - one of the world's
largest maker of mobile phones - has over one billion Nokia phones in
the market that could sign-up for one of these applications. She added
that the software developers will be in position to track the number
of people using their applications.

"We are helping local developers make money," Ms Ooko said when Daily
Monitor asked her about the possibility of people losing their
applications. A visit to Nokia's website www.nokia.com revealed that
participants also stand a chance to win a grand prize of Shs68 million
of the Shs560 million at stake for participants.

Nokia, which has its headquarters in Finland, is currently holding
meetings and educating software developers in Kenya and Tanzania about
the benefits of participating in its online forum competition that is
open until 30 June this year.