Uninor mulling to set up own mobile app store

Uninor is working on setting up its own mobile app store that will work on feature phones as well, in sync with the telecom operator’s ‘Internet for All’ project.

“We are working to create our own application store. It will have mobile application that can work even on feature phones and on 2G network,” Telewings Communications Services CEO Vivek Sood said on sidelines of the launch of mobile app development contest Digital Winners 2015.

Norwegian telecom company Telenor’s subsidiary, Telewings now owns Uninor brand name.

He added that the app store is part of the company’s ‘Internet for All’ programme and it is looking at increasing its mobile Internet customer base from about 22 per cent to 50 per cent by 2017.

While unveiling the India chapter of Digital Winner contest, Sood said, “We are committed to transform India into a knowledge economy. This year, application development theme is around education. The winner of the contest will get Norwegian Krone 1,00,000 which is around Rs 10 lakh besides other benefits.”

The selected mobile app developer will represent India at the Best App in Asia contest in Oslo. Uninor will provide mentorship to the developer to monetise the app.

“The intellectual property right will be that of application developer. If we see that an application has potential to give large economic benefit, then we will take it up separately with the developer,” Sood said.

The registration for the contest started from July 8 and will close on August 10, 2015. The top 10 shortlisted ideas will be judged by a panel of industry experts, technology professionals, journalists and mentors on August 31, 2015.

Uninor operates in UP, Bihar (including Jharkhand), Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra (excluding Mumbai) and Gujarat and has around 48 million customers.