3 Huawei app developers use tech to impact lives of millions worldwide

25 gulftech , Riyadh, KSA: In an increasingly digital world, technology is transforming lives and enabling easy access to resources. The ‘Social Impact’ category in the global Huawei HMS App Innovation Contest (Apps UP) underscores Huawei’s commitment to fostering technology to help bring the world closer. Under this category, the leading worldwide competition enables developers with the opportunity to showcase their best ideas through apps that create a positive impact in their communities. Individual prizes of up to US $15,000 from an overall global prize pool of US $1 million will be awarded to category winners.

In the 2020 edition of the contest, three apps from developers in the Middle East & Africa region were named as winners in the Social Impact category.

The ‘My Pregnancy Journey’ app was developed by African women for African women. It is designed to help address the lack of locally relevant information and assistance for expecting mothers. Each user can personalize the app for herself and use any of the 30 features to track her own pregnancy from week to week. The app updates with new content, videos, and information every week.

Jacqueline Rogers, Founder, My Pregnancy Journey, said, “By participating in Apps UP 2020, we were able to strengthen our education and support for pregnant women, not only in the African continent, but also around the world. Since joining the Huawei ecosystem, we were able to integrate the HMS Core Analytics Kit seamlessly, and this has now encouraged us to kick-start the process of integrating the HMS Core In-App Purchase Kit. If it wasn’t for Huawei, we wouldn’t have the opportunity to take our project higher and turn it in to a business. We look forward to integrating additional kits as My Pregnancy Journey grows and develops, and to raise awareness and a sense of community to women during a very special time of their lives.”

Another category winner, the Deaf Sign Language app, helps its users to learn sign language by word or phrase, facilitating communication with those who are hearing impaired. The app can be used offline and supports multiple languages, including Arabic.

Yousaf M. Ashraf, developer of the Deaf Sign Language App, said, “My decision to join the Huawei Mobile Services ecosystem, and to launch DSLA on HUAWEI AppGallery, was very timely, as integrating HMS Core kits easily motivated me to participate in Apps UP 2020. After winning two awards and becoming known widely, DSLA saw over 10,000 downloads from HUAWEI AppGallery in less than 2 months. This was in no small part due to the guidance, access to workshops, and resources that all developers received during the competition.”

The third winner from the Middle East and Africa region is ‘AlMosaly’ which provides users with a range of information for users to commit to their daily prayers and habits. With over 25 million users in Saudi Arabia and worldwide, the app is available in more than eight languages. The ‘AlMosaly’ app informs the user of the exact direction of the Qibla on the path of the sun, moon, compass and map and updates the user of the exact prayer time based on their geographical location. While using the app, users can opt for the electronic counter, available in various themes, and benefit from the daily reminders to do daily actions such as charity, remembrance, and other good deeds.

“Smart mobile technology impacts all our lives in many different ways, on both personal and professional levels, and we don’t see this slowing down anytime soon. The winners in last year’s Social Impact category of the Apps UP competition offer a vivid demonstration of how technology can really help improve lives through contextual assistance,” said Adam Xiao, Managing Director of Huawei Mobile Services in the Middle East and Africa, Huawei Consumer Business Group. “I very much look forward to seeing this year’s entries in this category and supporting them in reaching a wider audience.”

This year, the competition is once again split across five geographical regions, with up to US $200,000 in cash prizes up for grabs for developers in each region, including the Middle East & Africa (MEA). Five categories return from last year – Best App, Best Game, Best Social Impact App, Excellent Student Award and Honorable Mention. Three more are added for the first time: Tech Women’s Award, Best HMS Core Innovation Award, and All-Scenario Coverage Award.

Individual prize amounts range from US $3,000 to $15,000.

Less than 10 days remain for the application deadline. Aspiring developers can register as soon as possible before time runs out and learn more about the Apps UP competition on the website: https://developer.huawei.com/consumer/en/activity/digixActivity/digixdetail/101618451100197545