Developers continue to play big role - CTIA 2010 preview

A month after the GSMA's annual Mobile World Congress event spotlighted the continued growth and influence of the software developer community with the introduction of App Planet, a series of platform-specific mobile application development conferences, CTIA Wireless is adopting a similar approach: The first Mobile Web and Apps World Forum, taking place March 22, promises to explore the commercial impact of the application economy on the wireless ecosystem as a whole.

In addition to sessions spotlighting iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile, Nokia and BlackBerry development, Mobile Web and Apps World Forum promises to explore application advertising, marketing and monetization strategies, social media and viral marketing campaigns, widget creation, cross-platform deployment and venture financing insight. That same day, the Wireless Industry Partnership hosts its third annual WIP Jam Session, bringing in industry leaders to talk shop with developers on subjects ranging from app merchandising to hyper-local solutions to enterprise tools.

Another tradition making its return to CTIA Wireless is AT&T's Open Call-Apps for All contest, formerly AT&T Fast Pitch. First announced in early February and taking place March 23 and 24, the Open Call competition is divided into four categories: BREW Mobile Platform, Android, Java and RIM, and an "Open" category spanning applications and content across all platforms. Developers selected from the initial pool of entrants will receive five minutes each to pitch their applications to a panel of judges, and AT&T will award $10,000 in cash to the winner in each of the four categories. In addition, business-to-business marketplace Open Mobile Solutions will host hour-long OMS Developer Pitch Sessions across all three days of CTIA Wireless, giving five selected startups the chance to present their applications to a rotating cast of operators, handset makers, app stores and venture capitalists.