RCOM to launch mega contest for rural population

Mumbai, Aug 20 (UNI) In a major initiative, Reliance Communications (RCOM) is all set to introduce a mega contest for Rural Mobile Applications that will considerably simplify the lives of the rural population.

The contest will kick-off in September 2007. An independent panel of judges, comprising eminent professionals from reputed organizations, will decide the entries and finalize the winners.

Sources, confirming the development, said, "In order to boost the rural penetration, it is imperative that certain applications need to be developed for the rural market which will allow RCOM to make further inroads into India's vast population in rural areas and will delight, stimulate, entertain, educate and simplify people living in rural areas".

Reliance Mobile itself has over 20,000 registered users, who will get an opportunity to develop mobile applications for rural areas.

Under the aegis of Reliance Developer Programme, the Rural Mobile Applications contest is the ideal gateway to enrich the communications experience by introducing voice and data services through innovative applications meant exclusively for rural areas. The aim of Reliance Developer Programme is to provide a unique platform to the developer community in India to innovate, ideate, showcase, and participate in developing path breaking applications.

The Developers will be judged according to the user interface, innovativeness, uniqueness, functionality and utility value of applications launched which will bring difference to the rural population.

The initiative acquires greater significance in the light of Reliance Communications ongoing network expansion program that will give coverage to 25,000 towns and 6 lakh villages by March 2008.

UNI