Uninor launches contest for mobile app developers

Telenor's India unit is looking to set up its own mobile application store

Norwegian telecom major Telenor’s India unit Uninor is working on setting up its own mobile application store that will work on feature phones as well.

"We are working to create our own application store. It will have mobile application that can work even on feature phones and on 2G network," Telewings Communications Services CEO Vivek Sood said on sidelines of the launch of mobile app development contest Digital Winners 2015.

The app store is part of the company's 'Internet for All' programme and it is looking at increasing its mobile Internet customer base from about 22% to 50% by 2017. Uninor operates in UP, Bihar (including Jharkhand), Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra (excluding Mumbai) and Gujarat and has around 48 million subscribers.

It plans to launch its services in Assam this year.

Uninor also unveiled the India chapter of Digital Winner contest, Sood said: "We are committed to transform India into a knowledge economy. This year, application development theme is around education. The winner of the contest will get Norwegian Krone 1,00,000 (around Rs 10 lakh) besides other benefits."

The selected mobile app developer will represent India at the Best App in Asia contest in Oslo. Uninor will provide mentorship to the developer to monetise the app.

The registration for the contest started from July 8 and will close on August 10, 2015. The top 10 shortlisted ideas will be judged by a panel of industry experts, technology professionals, journalists and mentors on August 31, 2015.