Facebook seems to be capitalising on its popularity. There’s always a buzz about Facebook across the Internet. Be it articles on “Is there a possibility of Facebook soon becoming the new Myspace.” (Check PCWorld analysis – not that we totally agree with them ) or the new excitement over Facebook declaring revenue worth $500 million. In an interview with Reuters, Silicon Valley entrepreneur Mark Andreessen who sits on Facebook’s board mentioned that the world’s most popular online social network could pile up $1 billion in revenue this year if it pushed harder on selling advertising. He also lay strong emphasis that social networking sites should try and capture markets and retain user activity and focus on earnings later as they can always be made up in the long run.
Well, Facebook seems to be taking that advice very seriously. Very recently, we posted on how Facebook was growing strongly in India. Well, they seem to be focused on improving their strategies. Facebook has very recently launched the “Facebook Developer Contest – India”. India ranks second in the number of software developers with 3.9 million software developers and Facebook seems to want to leave no stone unturned in gaining their attention. The Facebook Developer’s Challenge focuses on Facebook Apps (on of the most interesting aspects of Facebook with high user retention and thousands of fans) and Facebook Connect, an important useful tool which serves as a good platform for publishers and for social media in general.
Three prize winners in each of the two contest categories will receive cash awards. For each category (Apps and Connect):
- First Place Prize : Four Thousand Dollars U.S. ($4,000.00 USD)
- Second Prize : Two Thousand Dollars U.S. ($2,000.00 USD).
- Third Prize : One Thousand Dollars U.S. ($1,000.00).
Which takes the total cash prize for this amount close to INR 3.4 Lakhs!
Proto.in is on WATBlog’s event list. We had brought you updates about this year’s edition of Proto.in. In a curious co-incidence, Facebook is the gold sponsor of the event. The Facebook Developer Garage will be held at proto.in with Ruchi Sanghvi, senior product manager at Facebook participating as the speaker. Facebook obviously seeks to impress on upcoming developers the importance of social media, its utility and potential for business. The event will obviously promote the Facebook Developer Contest – India.
The Contest began on July 2, 2009 and will end at 11:29:59 AM Indian Standard Time on September 11, 2009. The contest is open to all legal residents of India who are over the age of 16 at the time of entry. For more information, check www.facebook.com/developercontestindia.
Good to see FB coming out with a challenge. We have to see how many developers will jump in.
Facebook Developer Contest – India – Winners Announced
First Prize : GRABBLER
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GRABBER, a unique multiplayer wordgame built by a new social networking venture iPlaySocial.com floated by the parent company Trellisys.net
GRABLER is a turn based board game that engages players multi-player environment. Grabbler challenges users to build their vocabularies while at the same time is strategic in nature. The game play requires the players to create interlocking words using alphabets placed on cubes while strategy involves grabbing as many cubes of your opponents as possible.