In conjunction with Orange's release of SMS APIs for its SMS Web Service in five new countries - Cameroon, Congo, Guinea, Niger, Senegal, the French Operator, Tuesday launched an international developer challenge for startups across 13 countries, aiming to spur and nurture the creation of unique and local services for Africa and the Middle East.
The Orange AMEA Developer Challenge 2015 will involve start-ups from Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Mali, Niger, Congo, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Cameroon and Botswana and the group operator is also inviting submissions from France in this year’s challenge given the unique insight French start-ups can bring to the design and development of new services for users in Africa and the Middle East.
Submissions this year will start from the 3rd of August to 15th of September 2015 and 10 start-ups from each country will be selected to compete until the end of October. Orange will make available the APIs for SMS, USSD and Director Operator Billing on a test platform. According to Orange, each of the participating 13 countries will identify and reward one winning project, with one global winner awarded a 10 thousand euros (10,000.00€) prize. Through the Orange Partner developer website, start-ups from Cameroon, Congo, Guinea, Niger and Senegal will be able, in the course of this summer, to directly access and use the Orange SMS API for the first time.
Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/orange-logo.jpg
Photo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=2268 (Marc Rennard, senior executive vice president, Africa and the Middle East, Orange)
Marc Rennard, senior executive vice president, Africa and the Middle East, Orange
Over 100 million of our customers are in Africa and the Middle East. With data usage and familiarity with smartphone services growing day by day, the region is ripe for innovation and we want to be a part of the process that makes a positive and meaningful impact on the lives of Africans. The two initiatives we are launching today are designed to nurture ideas generation and support local talent. Opening up Orange assets to these entrepreneurs are essential to help them innovate and succeed.
