To boost Windows Mobile 6.5 development and applications added to the new Windows Marketplace for Mobile, Microsoft announces the race to market challenge. They challenge you to develop application(s) and add them to the Windows Marketplace.

It looks like Microsoft will be focusing more on the mobile market in the future and as a part of this they have changed the name from Windows Mobile to Windows Phone. Windows Mobile will still be the name of the OS on the phones, but Windows Phone will be the branding name.

Microsoft will reward:

• The developer whose paid application earns the most revenue within the contest period.

• The  developer whose free application is downloaded the most within the contest period.

The reward is:

• A Microsoft Surface Developer Unit, plus one year warranty (Approximate retail value US$20,000). I have previously written a post about the Microsoft Surface.

• Online Promotion and Marketing on: Windows Mobile Total Access, http://mobilethisdeveloper.com

• A Challenge Trophy

You are able to submit applications until 31th December 2009.

Let the race begin!