Code to cloud: Microsoft opens coding contest for ISVs, start-ups

Microsoft India, today, launched a contest for independent software vendors (ISVs) and technology start-ups that is expected to result in the creation of over 100 applications (apps) and solutions for businesses and governments in six months. The contest is supported by a panel of organisations including National Informatics Centre (NIC), NASSCOM, TiE, Nokia, Nokia App Campus, Intel and BarrierBreak. [caption id=“attachment_1297171” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] From L to R: Microsoft India, chairman, Bhaskar Pramanik and general manager and chief evangelist, Microsoft India, Joseph Landes.[/caption] ISVs and technology start-ups can win nine awards in four categories – Enterprise, MSME, Government Enablement and Citizen Services. Special credit will be given to apps and solutions that are accessible to differently-abled people and/or are created to promote social good. An NIC-backed, special award is earmarked for the ‘Best solution for social good using Open Gov Data’. Altogether 56 Indian government departments and ministries recently opened their data sets to the public and NIC is encouraging ISVs to develop applications using these data sets. Launching the contest, Bhaskar Pramanik, chairman, Microsoft Corporation (India) Pvt Ltd, said, “With the proliferation of devices and cloud-based services, governments, businesses and other organisations are seeking to interact with customers, partners and other stakeholders securely and reliably. There is an opportunity to create commercial apps beyond the traditional ERP and other transactional systems.” “Code for Honor will kick-start the creation of apps and solutions that are scalable, reliable and secure and that can be used over public, private and hybrid clouds,” he added. Code for Honor, the contest, will run over six months and is open to over 5,000 ISVs and tech start-ups in India. Any Indian ISV or tech start-up that is less than eight years old is eligible to participate in the contest. They may develop apps and solutions in four broad categories: 1. Enterprise apps and solutions – these could be in the areas of HR, Finance, Marketing, Sales etc. 2. Micro, small and medium enterprise apps and solutions – these may be in all the areas of operations of a small company and the apps and solutions need to be simple to deploy and cost effective. 3. Government Enablement – these could be applications that help government departments improve their internal operations. 4. Citizen services – these can be apps and solutions that help make government services more accessible to citizens and that benefit a large section of society. “The reality of multi-device, multi-screen experiences is reshaping how developers think, build and monetise apps for consumption across the world. Windows is playing a key role in giving wings to their aspirations by providing the most flexible and comprehensive platform. With best-in-class guidance, Code for Honor will challenge developers to build apps that have large-scale impact both for India and the world,” said Steve Guggenheimer, corporate vice president and chief evangelist, Microsoft. Competition winners not only stand to receive a Code for Honor Award for best solution in their category. It also means access to potential customers, opportunity to establish meaningful mentor relationships, a chance to showcase their solution to potential investors, prize money of INR 200,000/- per team and a Windows 8 and Windows Phone device.