App challenges are kind of like the spelling bee of the modern age; these events bring together bright minds and the chance for recognition when it comes to pioneering the next era of communications and IT services. A contest known as “forgethon” is the latest of the genre, targeting the rich well of innovation known as WebRTC.
WebRTC is a free, open project supported by Google, Mozilla and Opera, amongst others, which aims to provide browsers, mobile applications and Internet of things (IoT) devices with real-time communications (RTC) capabilities via simple APIs. Examples include IP messaging, presence, HD voice and video chat. And, the goal is for all to communicate via a common set of protocols, leading to cross-platform interoperability.
The contest at hand is sponsored by another big backer, Acision, and it asks developers to use the company’s forge SDK toolkit to create a new Android, iOS or Web app/service, or to enhance an existing one.
The forge is a communications framework SDK that is mainly aimed at developers building services for B2B or B2C purposes, so that businesses can enrich and enhance their customer engagement capabilities.
"The rich communication capabilities and WebRTC technology offered via the forge SDK offers seamless, secure, low-latency services that can be used for apps dealing with customer relations, call centers, education, training, healthcare, banking, finance, travel and entertainment…the options are endless,” said Eric Bilange, head of rich engagement services at Acision.”
As an online event, teams, individual developers, students and entrepreneurs from around the world are able and are encouraged to take part in the challenge. The first prize will be all-expenses paid trips to Mobile World Congress 2015 and SXSW Interactive 2015 in March, to showcase the winning app or service in person.
The idea is to provide a platform to publicize the app and to get it in front of “influencers” and audiences globally.
“We want to open up our SDK as part of this challenge to showcase the exciting ways in which our rich communication tools can be integrated into something without boundaries or limitations; we're looking for something innovative, something smart, something that really stands out, and in return we will support the winner to take their mobile app or Web service global,” said Bilange.
The closing date for submissions is Feb. 19, with winners being announced on Feb. 23. Along with the crowning winner, there will also be two runners up announced, who will both receive a drone, and free access to the forge SDK for one year.
Edited by
Maurice Nagle
