Google Releases “Android” SDK and Developer Challenge

By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews

As it promised last week, Google today released an early version of the “Android” SDK. This is in fact, an early look as Google terms it, so it’s far from a finished product. At the same time, Google announced a contest to jump-start development.

The SDK is available for Linux, Mac OS X and Windows. Even better, Google is offering $10 million in prizes in what they call the “Android Developer Challenge.” There will be two phases, with submissions in Phase I from Jan. 2, 2008 to March 3, 2008, and Phase II after the first handsets emerge (date thus TBD). The prize money is split 50 / 50 between the two phases.

In Phase I, the 50 most promising entries will each receive a $25,000 award — those 50 will then be eligible for ten $275,000 awards and ten $100,000 awards.

The Developer Challenge FAQ is here.

We Say: Those thinking of entering, good luck. “Android,” although it has tons of challenges ahead of it, is off to a fast start.