Microsoft has announced a Race to Market Challenge for Windows Mobile developers, in the run up to its app store launch.
The announcement comes as Microsoft starts accepting submissions for its Windows Marketplace for Mobile store for 29 countries. The store itself is due to launch in the Autumn.
The competition runs until the end of the year, with four categories: Most downloads of a free app; Most valuable app (downloads x price); Most useful; and Most playful.
The latter two will be judged by a Microsoft panel. Each category winner will get a Microsoft Surface touchscreen table, as well as online marketing and promotion for their app, and trophies.
Meanwhile, Microsoft has given more details about its approvals process for the store, saying apps will be certified on a first-in, first-out basis, with the process taking around 10 business days.
The company is clearly keen to convince developers that its process is more open and transparent than that of Apple, which has faced criticism for its approvals process.
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"Our strategy for all of this is pretty straightforward," writes Microsoft's Todd Brix in a blog post announcing the contest.
"We want to create a global marketplace for Windows Phones where developers and users meet to sell and buy high quality and high value applications that make work easier and life more fulfilling. We're creating a clear process and new opportunity for developers and ISVs to make money from their investmnt in innovation."
More details on the Race to Market Challenge can be found by clicking here.
