Microsoft India aims for Guinness record with AppFest

Microsoft today raised the pitch for the launch of Windows 8 operating system in October by hosting an 18-hour coding marathon, AppFest, for more than 3,500 developers, seeking to set a Guinness world record.

“The Windows AppFest will encourage budding developers, technology enthusiasts and entrepreneurs to innovate on next generation Windows technology,” Microsoft India Chairman Bhaskar Pramanik told reporters at the event that kicked off this afternoon.

Company executives said Guiness World Records officials are in attendance to sanction an attempt for the world’s largest app development marathon.

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Pramanik said the apps that will be built by developers here would contribute significantly to the success of Windows 8 global launch on October 26.

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He said Microsoft is holding the event of this scale only in India in view of the skills, expertise and hardwork of developers in this country in building great software and writing innovation.

On transition from Windows 7 to Windows 8, Pramanik said any application that runs on Windows 7 will run on Windows 8.

“We guarantee that. Therefore, there is no cost for migrating from Windows 7 to Windows 8 from applications perspective,” he said.

He said Windows XP operating system would enter “end of life” in 2014, signalling “end of support” for the product by the company. Microsoft would “kill the product” in 2014. “We want everybody to migrate to Windows 7 and Window 8,” he said.

Corporate Vice President, Windows Development, Microsoft, Jon DeVaan, said: “Windows offers app developers state of the art design and development tools, freedom and flexibility to use a choice of programming languages, including HTML/JSS, global global reach of 1.3 billion users, and industry leading revenue sharing”.

Microsoft has positioned the event as coding Olympics for developers, a non-stop 18-hour software jam with the opportunity to design, build, test and submit applications (app) with help of Microsoft mentors from different parts of the world and technical engineers on hand to support the process of submitting an app for Windows 8.

Developers will have the option of submitting apps in over 20 categories ranging from food, finance, productivity, books, social, photo, music and video and shopping.

PTI