By Charles Mgbolu

Search giant Google has announced a sub-Saharan Africa android developer challenge that invites African developers to compete and build innovative local Android mobile application softwares.

Vanguard Hitech has obtained copies of a release from the company that quoted “Every day more than 300,000 Android devices are activated globally. A growing number of these mobile device activations are in markets across Africa, making local African mobile content more relevant and important than ever before. In recognition of this, Google invites talented and creative developers in sub-Saharan Africa to design and build original Android applications for mobile phones that will delight users.”

The search giant listed entries for the categories which includes entertainment, media and games; social networking and communications; and productivity, tools and lifestyle. The The company said winners will each receive an Android phone and $25,000.

According to Miss Bridgette Sexton, Program Manager at Google “In the past year alone, we have met with over 10,000 developer and technicians across Sub Saharan Africa. We are continually impressed by the ingenuity and enthusiasm of this community to solve real problems with technology, ” Miss Sexton said. “At every Google event in Africa, Android is the most popular topic – as Android users multiply, so does the appeal for developers to build apps on this free open source platform.”

Google says Participants can submit applications via the challenge website by 1st July 2011. The winning application will be announced on September 12th.

Android is a software stack for mobile devices that includes an operating system, middleware and key applications. Google had purchased the initial developer of the software, Android Inc. in 2005.