Looking to spark innovation for the recently announced Android platform, and to offer support to the developer community, Google (News - Alert) has announced the Android Developer Challenge and $10 million in prizes.

 

With the challenge, developers will be battling it out to build the best mobile applications for Android and to win cash prizes ranging from $25,000 to $275,000.

 

Developer applications will be chosen by a panel of judges including technology and mobile experts selected from the Open Handset Alliance (News - Alert) member organizations and the industry in general.

 

Developers will be awarded based on their applications used of the entire Android platform and its ability to provide compelling experiences for consumers. Developers will retain all intellectual property and other rights to their applications.

 

According to a news release, the $10 million in prizes will be equally distributed between the Android Developer Challenge I and II.

 

Challenge I will be open from January 2 through March 3, 2008 and will award the 50 "most promising entries" with $25,000 awards by the end of March.

 

Challenge II will then allow the 50 winning entries from Challenge I to apply by May 1, 2008 for ten awards worth $275,000 each and another ten worth $100,000 each. These top apps will be announced by the end of May 2008.

 

 

"We've built some interesting applications for Android but the best applications are not here yet and that's because they're going to be written by developers," said Sergey Brin, Co-founder and President, Technology, Google in a statement to the press. "We'd like to reward these developers and recognize them as much as possible."

"We believe that the Android platform offers developers a unique opportunity to create truly innovative mobile software," also said Andy Rubin, Google's director of mobile platforms. "We're challenging developers to stretch their imaginations and skills to leverage the full capabilities of this new platform and to create something amazing."