Microsoft Gulf today announced the start of an exciting competition with the official launch of the MEA (Middle East & Africa) Windows Phone 7 Challenge in the region. Held in the region for the first time, the MEA Windows Phone 7 Challenge is a student technology contest which has been conceived to attract entries from students across the Middle East and Africa region to develop Windows Phone 7 compatible applications.

As part of this competition, contestants need to send innovative contest entries based on Microsoft Windows Phone technologies that address the theme: Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems. This will involve the creation of an original XAP Application package in Silverlight or XNA Game Studio.
“With opportunities like MEA Phone 7 challenge, you can go out and test yourself, your potential and your ability. This will motivate you to do more and more. For young students, it’s a cool platform to get your momentum going” said Amir Ali Jivani, MEA Phone 7 Challenge Round 1 Winner.

The Contest is split into five Rounds with the fifth round being the final round to select the eventual winner. The last date for contest entries is on April 20th 2011. A panel of qualified judges with knowledge and experience in software development will review all eligible entries received and select the winning teams based upon criteria revolving around originality and innovation, Visual XAP Appeal, Consumer XAP Appeal and unique mobile-oriented features.

According to Amintas Neto, MEA Academic Relations Lead., “ The MEA Windows Phone 7 challenge is a wonderful opportunity for talented students from across the region who can use this competition as a
showcase for their creativity and innovation to develop the best applications on Windows Phone 7. The competition comes at an opportune time considering the high mobile penetration across the region which has been driven to a large extent by the youth who are eager users and want the latest applications. The aim of this competition is to tap into that talent pool and technical capabilities to create truly innovative and socially responsible applications on Windows Phone 7.”

He added, “For Microsoft, this is another opportunity for us to highlight our commitment to supporting student talent in technology development to create advanced IT skills across the region.”

“We wanted to create something that would have a unique impression on the user, solve their problems easily and also be fun to use,” said Asad Ali Memon, MEA Phone 7 Challenge Round 2 Winner

Since its global rollout, Windows Phone 7 has attracted rave reviews from consumers around the world and in the region. For Microsoft, Windows Phone 7 represents an ambitious effort to deliver a fundamentally different kind of phone – one designed for an increasingly sophisticated and demanding consumer that is as engaged with their personal life as they are with work.