Microsoft has announced its plans to hold a Windows Phone Hackathon during the country’s largest IT and Telecom Expo —  ITCN Asia — which will take place in Karachi later this month. Microsoft is inviting students, startups and professional developers alike to build apps for Widows Phone platform in several categories, and try their luck at bagging WP smartphones as prizes.

The Hackathon is being organized in collaboration with Microsoft Innovation Center, Karachi. Starting on August 26^th, it will be three-day long competition which will commence parallel to the ITCN Asia event (August 26^th – 28^th). Competition will be held at Mezzanine Floor of Hall II, Expo Center, Karachi, and the communicated timings are 10:00AM to 05:00PM.

The categories for which the developers can create competing apps include:

• Build for Better Pakistan: All those applications which have localized content, are specific to Pakistan, solve a local problem or portray a better image of our country.
• Games: All games built on Windows Phone using XAML, DirectX, Unity3D, GameMaker etc.
• Kids & Education: Applications around books, references, including religious apps, quiz, tests, learning, etc.
• Lifestyle & Food:Apps around fashion, culture, cuisine, restaurants, food-finders, etc.
• News & Weather: Applications that deliver timely updates regarding news, weather and related domains.

The winners and Runners Up from each category will be awarded Windows Phone smartphones as gift prizes. A total of 20 WP smartphones are up for grabs. A maximum of 2 individuals can team-up to compete in a category. Prizes will be distributed among the winners as follows:

Build for Better Pakistan
– Winner =  Lumia 1320 x 2
– Runner Up = Lumia 630 x 2

Games
– Winner = Lumia 1520 x 2
– Runner Up = Lumia 630 x 2

Kids & Education
– Winner = Lumia 1020 X 2
– Runner Up = Lumia 630 x 2

Lifestyle & Food
– Winner = Lumia 920 x 2
– Runner Up =  Lumia 630 x 2

News & Weather
– Winner = Lumia 1320 x 2
– Runner Up = Lumia 625 x 2

Devices will be given relative to team size. If a team consist of an individual, one Windows Phone device will be given. If it consists of two members, both members will be given category relative Windows Phone device.

In addition to the main competition, there will be awareness/technical sessions regarding Microsoft products and services. Random quiz competitions will also be held in which Microsoft goody-bags will be given away to the lucky winners.

Related Links and Information

• For complete details and answers to FAQs, you may visit the official announcements at MSDN Blog.
• Participants may register at the official ITCN Asia website.