Smart rallies local mobile application developers to Android.(Infotech)

Leading wireless services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) in partnership Taiwan smartphone maker HTC brings together mobile application developers at the Smart Mobile Developer Conference Friday at the Science Discovery Center at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.The Smart Mobile Developer Conference features Google's latest mobile platform Android. The whole-day conference aims to encourage the Philippine mobile developer community to become Android experts by exchanging knowledge and sharing their experiences and tools in developing mobile applications for the new mobile platform.The conference will feature guests and experts from Smart, HTC, Google and the developer community who will talk about Android through presentations including an "Introduction to Android," "Android in the Changing Mobile Ecosystem," "Android SDK," and "Programming Environment" among others. There will also be demonstrations on local Android development samples, hands-on workshops on using Android and other developer tools, and a panel discussion on "What makes a killer app?" with guests and experts from Smart, HTC, and leading Android developers.A highlight of the conference is the announcement of the Smart Mobile Developer Competition which aims to bring out the best in the Philippines' mobile application developer community. The competition is open to all amateur, freelance, or professional developers with Java programming experience. Huge prizes await the top two winning teams which will be determined through judges' rating as well as a one-week online public voting.The teams participating in the competition will have the unique opportunity to have their apps considered for commercial deployment with Smart.A "People's Choice Award" will also be given to the entry that earns the highest number of online votes.The overall top two winning teams will each receive HTC Magic handsets as well as trophies as a testament to their excellent work.Furthermore, a team member from each of the top two teams will represent the Philippines at the Conexus Android showcase at the GSMA Mobile Asia Congress in Hong Kong on November 18, 2009.The representatives will have a rare opportunity to exchange ideas and skills with fellow developers from other countries and to interact with mobile operators from other countries as well as the international mobile community and technology journalists.Smart will sponsor the two winning team representatives' airfare, hotel accommodation, and other expenses when they head to Hong Kong for the Conexus Android showcase.