Are you a (Windows Live Mobile) developer? Now is the time to submit your applications to the Windows Marketplace for Mobile. Not only will your app be one of the first available in the marketplace when it launches, but you also have a chance of winning one of the following prizes:

A Microsoft Surface table (30-inch) and developer kit Online marketing and promotion A one-of-a-kind trophy

The Contest Entry Period consists of a Submission Period during which applications are accepted in the Marketplace, and a Download Period during which entries are counted for the purpose of this Contest as follows:

• Submission Period
  Begins at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time (PT) on July 27, 2009, and ends at 11:59 p.m. PT on Dec. 31, 2009
• Download Period
  Begins at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time (PT) on the date that the Marketplace opens to the public and ends at 11:59 p.m. PT on Dec. 31, 2009

You are eligible to enter the Race to Market Challenge if you are an ISV or application developer residing in a country/region where Microsoft Marketplace for Mobile is available*, have met the criteria for the Marketplace application certification process and have agreed to the terms of the Marketplace.

Entries will be divided into four pools based on geographic region as follows:

1. USA/Canada
2. Southeast Asia
3. Europe / Middle East / Asia
4. Latin America

and will be judged on:

• Most downloads of a free app
• Most valuable app (downloads x price)
• Most useful (as judged by Microsoft panel)
• Most playful (as judged by Microsoft panel)

The names of the winners will be posted online at http://mobilethisdeveloper.com. This list will remain posted until February 1, 2010. Further details are available at http://mobilethisdeveloper.com and in the announcement post.

Good Luck!

* Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong SAR, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and the United States