Infotech Lead India: Microsoft has started Windows AppFest in association with Maharashtra Government to build apps for social purposes.
The initiative will encourage app developers to create solutions that will help civil authorities seek alternative methods of interacting with citizens.
The top three apps will be selected for a presentation at a conference hosted by Asian Development Bank.
Maharashtra is spending funds to create cloud infrastructure for state government agencies. On 27 November, the Directorate of Information Technology organized a conference on Cloud services in Mumbai, offering a platform for practitioners, government and academia to share their views on the developments, on-going researches and future of technological advancements in the field of Cloud Computing.
Microsoft on Monday said its Windows AppFest represents how a new generation is tackling the challenges of government by using technology and collective action.
Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary IT, Government of Maharashtra, said: “App marketplaces are proving to be viable platforms to host e-governance and socially relevant apps. Such apps can provide citizen-centric services in a secure manner, while ensuring increased transparency, reliability and efficiency in services.”
Sanket Akerkar, managing director, Microsoft India, said: “The collective capability of the developer population in India is going to play a key role in fueling this movement across the world. With this Windows AppFest, Microsoft is focusing on encouraging app developers to build apps for social good on the Windows platform.”
At present, Microsoft is making significant investments in working with 1.2-million developers — the second-largest developer ecosystem — and over 1000 Independent Software Vendors to empower them with the tools, technologies and training.
