BlackBerry released the BlackBerry Spark Communications Platform earlier today and to go along with the global release, the company is launching the first ever Spark Hackathon.
Spark Hackathon is open to developers 18 years and older from across the globe. I’m not actually quite secure why they are calling it a hackathon but the general idea is a competition for developers to produce innovative, creative, and functional projects utilizing the BlackBerry Spark Communications Platform.
Entrants will be provided access to the software development kit that will allow them to build solutions using the BlackBerry Spark Communications Platform, enabling developers and companies to embed secure enterprise-grade IP-based messaging, communications (voice, video), data transfer, streaming and collaboration functionality.
Submissions may be any kind of software application or project developed using the BlackBerry Spark Communications Platform but preference will be given to embedded IoT projects with a judging panel of experts scoring the apps based on criteria in innovation; creativity; and functionality.
Timeline
- July 26: Webcast at 9 AM EDT to go over the rules of the Hackathon, and to give you some ideas for your project.
- July 30: First “Ask a Developer” session at 9 AM EDT. Submit any and all questions you have about BlackBerry Spark Communications Platform and BlackBerry experts will answer them live. The recording will be available for those who miss the live webcast.
- August 9: Second “Ask a Developer” session at 9 AM EDT.
- August 14: Video submissions are due to sparkhackathon@blackberry.com by 11:59 PM PDT.
- August 17: Winners notified and announced.
- September 12: London Security Summit – at least one winner will be flown to London to present their project!
- October 4: New York Security Summit – at least one winner will be flown to New York to present their project!
The winner(s) of the Hackathon will receive the following as a prize:
1. Attendance to the Security Summit in their region (New York City or London).
2. Demonstrate their application or project to the Security Summit audience.
3. Meet a senior BlackBerry leader.
4. Transportation to and from the Security Summit.
5. Lodging for two (2) nights during the event.
6. Meals for the duration of the event.
7. Video about their project posted to the BlackBerry YouTube page.
8. Blog written about the winner(s).
Interested developers can enter for the hackathon here.
