$3m on offer in this year's BlackBerry Developer Challenge

Blackberry Partners Fund kicks off fourth annual app development contest.

The BlackBerry Partners Fund has revealed a $3 million prize pot for its fourth annual BlackBerry Developer Challenge contest, which this year is open to apps for the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet as well as BlackBerry smartphones.

The contest will run across four regions: North America; Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa; and Asia Pacific, and includes three main categories. They are: Best Adobe Flash/AIR app; Most Innovative BlackBerry WebWorks app; and Most Addictive Social App using the BBM Social Platform.

There will also be separate Recognition Awards, with categories including Best B2C application developed for a customer by an Agency or ISV; Most useful enterprise application; Best website conversion using the BlackBerry WebWorks platform; Most creative implementation of Super App characteristics; Top Performers – Most innovative use of Payment Service and/or Advertising Service; and Academic – Most compelling application created by student or faculty.

"While the structure of the Challenge has evolved each year, our focus remains the same – to uncover the best apps around the globe that people cannot live without," says co-managing partner Kevin Talbot.

Certain categories are open for submissions now. For more details, see the official Developer Challenge website.