Android Developer challenge.

Nothing lights a fire under hesitant mobile app developers like $10 million dollars.

The Android Developer Challenge will be run in two stages. The first will accept submissions between Jan. 2 and Mar. 3, 2008. the second will run after the first Android handsets are launched.

The first stage will see 50 of the most promising submissions awarded $25,000 to fund "future development" (or a sweet house party). Those selected will then be up for ten $275,000 awards and ten $100,000 awards.

Google's suggestions:

# Social networking
# Media consumption, management, editing, or sharing, e.g., photos
# Productivity and collaboration such as email, IM, calendar, etc.
# Gaming
# News and information
# Rethinking of traditional user interfaces
# Use of mash-up functionality
# Use of location-based services
# Humanitarian benefits
# Applications in service of global economic development

Accoring to the FAQ, the developers will retain the IP while granting Google the right to test the app and use it for Android promotion. Sergey also reserves the right to harvest the developers' brains for medical and culinary experimentation (Joke. Mr. Brin seems like a very nice man. I admire his hair.)

This is the incentive the platform needs. If Google can get 50 cool-ass apps by hotshot developers available before the first Android handset is released, the platform will instantly be viable competition for the Symbians and Windows Mobiles of the world.