Samsung Launches ‘Samsung Smart App Challenge 2012’ – A Global Contest for Mobile Application Developers

Bangalore, India – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, today introduced the Samsung Smart App Challenge 2012, a global app competition aimed at boosting the mobile ecosystem for GALAXY Tab and GALAXY Note users.

The contest is divided into two categories - ‘Samsung Apps Super Apps’ and ‘Best S Pen Apps’. A total of 80 entries will be selected as winners, receiving a record total of $4.08 million in prize money along with a variety of promotional benefits.

The challenge is open to all mobile application developers across the globe. Developers who wish to participate should sign up directly on the App Challenge website (http://www.smartappchallenge.com) and register their apps on Samsung Apps.

“Given the size of prize money and a variety of other benefits, we expect the competition will foster the growth of the ecosystem for GALAXY Tab and GALAXY Note applications,” said Kang-hyun Kwon, Senior Vice President of Media Solutions Center, Samsung Electronics. “Since their launch, the GALAXY Tab and GALAXY Note, along with Samsung GALAXY smart phones, have become must-have items for the smarter lifestyle. The Samsung Smart App Challenge will greatly enhance application choices for these devices so users can enjoy a richer experience.”

Contest entrants will be divided into two categories. In the “Samsung Apps Super Apps” segment, winning entries will be decided by the public, with the 30 most downloaded games and 30 most downloaded non-game apps winning a share of the prize money. In the “Best S Pen App” segment, a panel of judges will decide the winning entries, which will consist of 20 innovative applications which use S Pen’s functionality in interesting and experiential ways.

Winning entrants will be rewarded with record-high prize money and a variety of promotional benefits through Samsung’s global channels. They will be given a chance to promote their apps through a variety of social media channels as well as other online and offline platforms such as Samsung Mobile, Samsung Apps and Samsung Developers.

In order to encourage participation, Samsung Electronics will carry out an early registration event for developers and a variety of additional events for application users in connection with activities featured on its Facebook fan page for Samsung Apps (www.facebook.com/samsungapps).

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2011 consolidated sales of US$143.1 billion. Employing approximately 206,000 people in 197 offices across 72 countries, the company operates two separate organizations to coordinate its nine independent business units: Digital Media & Communications, comprising Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, and Digital Imaging; and Device Solutions, consisting of Memory, System LSI and LED. Recognized for its industry-leading performance across a range of economic, environmental and social criteria, Samsung Electronics was named the world’s most sustainable technology company in the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.