ITWire

It has all the elements that cynics could feed on.  App Aid is a 48 hour event, supported by Facebook and Samsung hosted in Australia by the Vodafone Foundation.  After selecting a shortlist of seven charities, the stated aim of App Aid is to produce smartphone apps that:

*  Adds value to the charity and community it supports
*  Is a highly engaging and innovative app that encourages regular use by its users - demonstrating features that make people want to keep coming back
*  Is not replicated anywhere in the current smartphone app environment
*  Has a clever user interface design that takes mobile device features into account, such as shaking, waving, gestures, voice activation etc.

Locally the event will be held in Sydney on Thursday 20 September to Saturday, 22 September, 2012, App developers have until August 22nd to enter the competition.

“App Aid is a ground-breaking event that will unite developers committed to helping make a difference, with Australian charities that might not normally be able to afford or access these services,” said Demelza Farr, Head of the Vodafone Foundation.

“As Australia is fast becoming an app nation; on average, Australians will have 25 downloaded apps on their smartphones, we believe this technology offers charities a new world of possibilities to engage with their communities in a relevant, innovative and meaningful way.

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