Vodacom has revealed that its Vodacom Apps Store has reached 100 000 downloads in its first month of operation. The company is now launching a program to support local talent in applications development.

This Vodacom Developer Program aims to create an environment of collaboration and innovation amongst the local developer community. The program will launch in Johannesburg on 7 October 2011 at the Protea Fire and Ice Hotel in Melrose Arch from 18:00-21:00, as well as in Cape Town on 10 October 2011 at Vodacom’s main auditorium in Century City from 18:00-21:00. This developer program will be free to attendees.

The program promises to be a valuable knowledge sharing and learning exercise for the industry as a whole. Those attending will be provided with the opportunity to:

• engage with the most renowned industry specialists in the mobile apps marketplace;  
• discuss tools to monetise apps
• identify training opportunities in the mobile apps environment; and
• gain insight into Vodacom’s innovation incentives, available technical and commercial support.

Prins Mhlanga, managing executive of Digital Media at Vodacom commented: “We see the Apps store as the embryo of an ecosystem. We’re looking forward to building a network of successful local developers, so they can help develop apps that help South Africans. With our apps initiative, we hope to complement and enhance this already vibrant community.”

The Vodacom Apps Store was launched on 1 September 2011 and sports a catalogue of more than 140 000 applications powered by Appia, one of the world’s largest open application marketplaces.

All Vodacom customers who wish to access Vodacom apps can do so by visiting http://vodacom.mobi/apps from their mobile phones or from the apps feature on Vodafone live!

“The opportunities for further development in the Vodacom Apps Store are significant considering it also supports all major platforms including Android, BlackBerry, Java, Symbian and Windows Mobile,” Mhlanga concluded.

Developers and interested parties that want to attent the Vodacom Developer Program can register on the company’s site.