Tune in! Nokia to run Indian reality TV show to judge submitted app ideas

Nokia India launched an initiative in collaboration with NDTV, which saw consumers provided with the unique opportunity to submit their mobile app ideas that have potential to be developed for Windows Phone, so other owners can enjoy the experience. A reality TV show, "Nokia Lumia Your Wish Is My App" is set to be produced where app ideas will be pitched and judged by a panel of well-known faces in India.

The contest prior to the TV show has received a staggering 35,000 app idea submissions from consumers since it was announced in December. 

Nokia has also unveiled the fifth judge of the show. Bollywood actress and youth icon, Kalki Koechlin, who joins Rajiv Makhni, NDTV Managing Editor & Tech Guru; Vishal Gondal, Managing Director-Digital, DisneyUTV; Raj Chinai, Venture Capitalist & Co-Founder, Harvard Business School Alumni Angels; and Vikas Khanna, New York based Michelin Starred Celebrity Chef.

Out of the number of ideas submitted, only a mere 42 will be shortlisted and consumers with the most exciting ideas will be called in to participate in the first app reality TV show. The prize on offer for first place, should your idea be selected as winner is Rs 1million ($186,000). The show will begin airing on NDTV starting February 9th, which will show viewers consumers showcasing their ideas in front of the panel of judges.

Gerard Rego, Director - Developer Experience, Nokia India had the following to comment on the results of the entries:

"We are pleased and very excited to have received such a phenomenal response from consumers for the ‘Nokia Lumia – Your Wish Is My App’ contest. The results have been astounding! 35000 entries is a huge number which clearly reiterates consumer enthusiasm for such initiatives. We have received several app ideas that aim to enable a wide range of experiences. We noticed that the ideas were around topics that mattered most to people in their daily lives -- women security, productivity, grooming, food, health & wellbeing. One could literally feel the pulse of the nation by going through these ideas."

Not only is the main prize up for grabs, but the collaboration between Nokia and NDTV is also set to give away Rs 5 lakhs ($9,300) and Rs 2 lakhs ($3,720) to runner-ups. It's also noted that three lucky winners will stand a chance of winning a Lumia 920 Windows Phone. Much like Britain's Got Talent (or the American counterpart), we're sure this idea will go down well with developers and those interested in technology.

The fact that the companies managed to accumulate over 35,000 entries for app ideas on Windows Phone displays a fair size of interest from general consumers. What do we think of an actual reality TV show being aired for apps to be made onto the platform? We're not too sure. Sure, it hits two birds with one stone - marketing, promotion and app ideas being funneled for development.

But we could skip the show and just pump as many ideas into apps as possible. Employ 100 developers, shove them into a basement filled with gadgets, jacuzzi, Xbox, Master Chiefs, MMORPGs, pop soda, 3D TVs and task them to turn as many ideas as possible into apps. Actually, that would be an even better show, right?

Source: India Info Online, via: WMPU