Celcom in collaboration with Microsoft Malaysia and Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd has announced that it will be launching the League of Extraordinary Developers Challenge 2008; a contest offering mobile developers in the country to develop innovative mobile solutions.

“The League of Extraordinary Developers Challenge offers aspiring application developers a platform to create innovative mobile applications that are relevant in today's telco industry. There are many Malaysian individuals and companies who are equipped with the intention, drive and potential to excel in the mobile application industry, and Celcom is providing them the means to expand their ideas effectively,” said Dato' Sri Shazalli Ramly, Chief Executive Officer of Celcom (Malysia) Berhad.

The contest starts on 15 September 2008. The winning developer will have his or her application developed under the guidance and mentoring of industry experts, followed by an opportunity for a lucrative revenue sharing contract with Celcom to commercialize their applications and services.

According to Cradle's Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Nazrin Hassan, Cradle Investment Programme (CIP), a fund managed by Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd under the auspices of the Ministry of Finance, will support the League of Extraordinary Developers Challenge 2008 by providing funds to the mobile developers that participates in the contest, subject to terms and conditions. A sum of 100 million has been allocated by MOF for this programme, which began in June. Till to date CIP has disbursed a total of RM 15.7 million to some 270 innovative entrepreneurs.

Celcom has worked together with Microsoft and Cradle to set up a mobile solution platform based on the Microsoft Connected Services Framework.

Two winning entries will be chosen every month. A total of 24 winners will be selected. Submissions end 15 December 2008.