Ncell announces mobile phone app competition
KATHMANDU, AUG 12 - Telecom service provider Ncell has introduced the Ncell App Camp, an initiative that will promote the development of mobile phone applications through competition for young developers and mobile enthusiasts, as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR).
The initiative aims to unleash the country’s digital potential and inspire youth to build innovative businesses. The announcement was made public amid a programme in Kathmandu on Monday.
According to the company, the Ncell App Camp will be a multi-stage event which will provide a unique opportunity to mobile enthusiasts to first acquire priceless global and local knowledge of the app business and learn the skills of developing an app and building a business around it, then compete among themselves to stand out and win exciting prizes.
Under the competition, entries have been opened for four categories: agriculture, corporate solutions, education and tourism, and mobile developers and enthusiasts can take part as a team for free.
“Agriculture, corporates, education and tourism are major contributors to the Nepali economy wherein creative youth can make a huge difference by coming up with tools to enhance efficiency and productivity.
These are also the sectors around which young innovative businesses can thrive,” said Sanju Koirala, corporate communication director of Ncell.
Once the teams submit their refined ideas, six best ideas from each category -- 24 teams in total -- will be selected for the final competition which will be held through Dec 9-11. These finalists under the mentorship of national and international experts will come up with working prototypes, present them and pitch their ideas to an independent jury comprising experts from different sectors. After evaluating the usability and viability of the app prototypes, the jury will select four category winners and one overall winner.
The thematic winners will win cash prizes of Rs 250,000 each, and the overall winner will bag an additional
Rs 500,000 in cash along
with Ncell’s sponsorship to participate in a similar overseas app camp.
Koirala said Ncell believed the App Camp would serve as an important platform to identify and promote Nepali app developers and also contribute positively to society. “It will also instil a spirit of entrepreneurship among talented developers and mobile enthusiasts, motivate them to think commercially and help them to turn their new app ideas into successful businesses, thereby promoting self-employment,” she added.
Young developers and mobile enthusiasts can take part in the competition for free by registering their teams and ideas around the four thematic areas. Registration should be done online at http://www.ncell.com.np/appcamp. They can create apps for any platform like Android, Apple iOS, Windows, SMS and J2ME, among others.
Shedding light on the process of the Ncell App Camp, Bibhusan Bista of Young Innovations said that the best workable ideas would be selected and the teams invited to take part in capacity building seminars following the registration.
During the seminars, the teams will undergo coaching in various aspects of app making and business development.
Ncell launches self-service app
Ncell has introduced the Ncell App that enables customers to readily acquire all information about Ncell products, services and schemes besides allowing them to easily check their balance, top up the balance, buy data packs and other services, and transfer the balance, among other functions. The mobile phone application was launched by Erim Taylanlar, chief executive officer of Ncell. “We are glad to unveil to our customers the Ncell App that provides a complete self-service solution. We believe it will ease their operations and benefit them greatly,” said Taylanlar. The app comes with different features for pre-paid and post-paid customers. Customers will have those features automatically loaded on their handset depending on the type of SIM they have.
The Ncell App Camp essentially aims to contribute to drive innovation and make Nepali youngsters part of the worldwide mobile app industry, added Taylanlar.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
