Here’s your chance to build compelling applications and Web sites using Windows Live Services
OVERVIEW
The Windows Live Award is a special award designed to recognize the software design solution that makes the best use of the Windows Live platform.
The Windows Live platform can enhance your solutions by enabling you to add rich media, communications, community, and mapping to your Web-based applications. There are many different ways to integrate the Windows Live Platform - APIs (SOAP, REST, etc.) and controls - choose the one that best fits your skills and solution! Each capability has several underlying technologies you can use across many platforms. For example:
- If you require authentication for your Web site, you may choose to use Windows Live ID web authentication.
- If end-users of your solution require real-time communication via instant messaging, you may choose to use one of the many programmability options of Windows Live Messenger.
You aren't required to use all of these capabilities; however, entries in the Windows Live Award will be judged in part on their ability to integrate these capabilities in an innovative way. Should you accept the challenge, your team will benefit from not only the masses of data accessible via Windows Live Services (e.g. 14 petabytes of mapping) but also the reach of the Windows Live network with approx 400 million active users. To access these resources, go to http://dev.live.com.
PLEASE NOTE: If you choose to submit a software design solution for consideration for the Windows Live Award, then you agree that your participation in the Windows Live Award Category is subject to the following terms and conditions:
If there are any inconsistencies between the Imagine Cup Rules and Regulations, the Windows Live Services Terms of Use, and these Imagine Cup Windows Live Award Contest Details, the Imagine Cup Rules and Regulations will govern.
WHAT ARE THE START AND END DATES?
This Contest starts at 12:01 AM Greenwich Mean Time ("GMT") on February 12, 2008 and ends at 11:59 PM (GMT) on May 15, 2008 ("Entry Period"). Entries must be received within the Entry Period to be eligible.
CAN YOU ENTER?
You are eligible to enter this Contest if you meet the Eligibility Requirements set forth in the "Eligibility Criteria" section of the Imagine Cup Rules and Regulations at: /Competition/Rules-Regulations.aspx#Rule4.
WHAT CONSTITUTES AN ELIGIBILE ENTRY?
To be eligible for consideration for this Award, you must submit a functional software solution and an Official Entry Form (collectively, "entry"), and your entry must meet the following content and technical requirements:
- You must submit the Official Entry Form posted on the right side of this page. All required fields on the Official Entry Form must be completed including:
- Abstract of the problem space and high-level solution scope.
- Details of capabilities and user interface technology approach.
- A list of the Windows Live technologies leveraged and why you selected these technologies.
- A description of the Windows Live stack that the project will demonstrate
- Explanation of why you used Windows Live services and how these services have improved your project.
- Description of the technical/ business reasons that made Windows Live technology a good option.
- Your solution must address the Imagine Cup theme, "Imagine a world where technology enables a sustainable environment."
- Your solution may be localized in any language; however, the supporting materials including the Official Entry Form must be presented in English.
- Your solution must comply with the Windows Live Services Terms of Use posted at: http://dev.live.com/terms.
- Your solution must use Windows LIVE ID and at least two (2) additional Windows Live services. All Windows Live Services are listed on http://dev.live.com/services/. Preference will be given to solutions that use Windows Live Messenger, JavaScript, and Windows Live Alerts.
- Your solution must be a fully-implemented and functional solution; not an idea to be developed.
- File Formats accepted: doc, docx, pdf, ppt, zip
- Maximum File Size: 200 MB
- Your solution must include at least two (2) of the Required Elements and one (1) of the Optional Elements described below:
Required Elements
- Implement or consume a XML Web Service
- Design project on .NET Framework 2.0 or later
- Use of Visual Studio family (Express, Standard, Professional, or Team System) for development
Optional Elements
- Implement or use a PopFly Block
- Interoperability techniques
- British Telecom SDK (You must use the .NET version.)
- Mobile device
- .NET Compact Framework
- ASP .NET
- SQL Server
- Imagine Cup sponsor resources
HOW DO I REGISTER?
If you wish to participate in this Contest, you must register at www.imaginecup.com as instructed during the Entry Period, either individually, or as a member of a Team.
For purposes of this Contest, a Team consists of up to four (4) eligible students (each a "Team"). You must create and register your team as instructed at: /Support/FAQ.aspx#Question25.
Each Team is solely responsible for its own cooperation and teamwork. In no event will Microsoft officiate in any dispute regarding the conduct or cooperation of any Team or its members. In addition, you may not compete as a member of multiple Teams in this Contest.
HOW DO I SUBMIT MY ENTRY?
To submit your entry, navigate to the SDI Invitational Page at /Competition/mycompetitionportal.aspx?competitionId=10 . Click the Upload Award Entry button in your Entry Panel to access the Submit Entry page. During the entry submission process, you will be required to provide a title and short description for your entry. You must include a completed Windows Live Award Entry form (found on the top-right of this page) with your entry.
ENTRY LIMIT
We will only accept one (1) entry per Team. We are not responsible for entries that we do not receive for any reason, or for entries that we receive but are not decipherable for any reason.
We will automatically disqualify:
- Incomplete or illegible entries; and
- Entries that we receive in excess of the entry limit described above.
HOW WILL ENTRIES BE JUDGED?
On or around the close of the Entry Period, a panel of qualified judges will review all eligible entries received and select one (1) Team based upon the Judging Criteria described below. The winner will be announced on or around July 8, 2008.
- 25% - Use of Windows Live services - Did you use Windows Live services in a compelling fashion?
- 25% Elegance - Are the services combined in an elegant fashion?
- 25% Innovation - Are the services differentiated from the competitive technologies?
- 25% Clear statement of business motivation - Is the use of Windows Live central to the application's functionality? How deeply is Windows Live integrated?
All decisions of the Contest Judges are final and binding. If we do not receive a sufficient number of entries meeting the entry requirements, we may, at our discretion based on the above Judging Criteria, select fewer than the number of winners stated. In the event of a tie between any eligible entries, the tie will be broken by an additional judge who will then judge the tied entries based on the criteria listed above.
PRIZES
One (1) Grand Prize. A prize package consisting of the following items:
- An opportunity for each member of the Team to travel to Paris, France, as a guest of Microsoft, to attend the Imagine Cup 2008 Worldwide Finals. Trip includes roundtrip airfare and lodging (Approximate Retail Value (ARV), $4,000 per person).
- Windows Live Award consisting of $10,000 to be distributed equally among each member of the Team.
- The opportunity to have the Windows Live Award-winning solution featured on the Imagine Cup Web site and on dev.live.com.
- An opportunity to interview for a Microsoft internship with the Windows Live Group.
NOTE: Internship offers are at the sole and exclusive discretion of Microsoft and are subject to additional terms and conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a new requirement for Software Design Invitational?
No. This Contest is separate from the Imagine Cup Software Design Invitational. However, you can submit your entry from SDI for consideration for the Windows Live Award provided you meet all of the eligibility requirements and your entry meets all of the Imagine Cup Windows Lives Award Content and Technical Requirements described above.
My country is not hosting a local Software Design semi-final. Can I still compete in this Contest?
Yes, you can compete in this Contest even if your country is not hosting a local Software Design semi-final because this Contest is separate from the Imagine Cup Software Design Invitational. You are not required to attend a local Software Design semi-final.
What are the deadlines for the Windows Live Award?
This Contest starts at 12:01 AM [Greenwich Mean Time ("GMT")] on February 12, 2008 and ends at 11:59 PM [GMT] on May 15, 2008 ("Entry Period"). Entries must be received within the Entry Period to be eligible.
How will I submit my entry?
Follow the steps to submit a Software Design entry.
- Sign up for the Software Design Invitational on your Profile page.
- Provide your personal information.
- Confirm your Imagine Cup account.
- Create a Live ID and associate it with your Imagine Cup account.
- Form or join a team.
You can tell if you have completed these required steps by looking at the competition checklist on your Software Design Competition page, and the corresponding message displayed in the "Entry Panel" in the top left corner of your Software Design Competition page.
- If it says "Sign Up for the Competition", click the button to be taken to your Profile page where you can sign up for the competition.
- If it says "Provide Personal Information", click the button to be taken to your Profile page. You must fill in all the fields in the Personal Information section and click Update in order to compete. If a particular field is not applicable to you (for example, your country does not use postal codes), put "NA" or "Not Applicable."
- If it says "Confirm Your Account", click the button to have a registration confirmation mail sent to you. Once you receive it, click on the included confirmation link to confirm your account.
- If it says "Create a Live ID Account", click the button to be taken to the Windows Live ID Web site, where you can create a new Live ID or log in with an existing one. After you have done that, you will be returned to the Imagine Cup site and asked to supply your Imagine Cup credentials to link the two accounts.
- If it says "Join or Create a Team", you should create a team following the steps outlined in the Support FAQ.
- If you see a message that tells you to submit an award entry, you're all set! Click Upload Award Entry.
Select the checkbox that says Please consider this entry for the Windows Live Award from the upload interface. Please also ensure you have included a completed copy of the Windows Live Award Official Entry Form, found on this page. You can only submit one file so you must zip your entry form and your entry into a single file.
Can a team create one entry for SDI and then another for the Windows Live Award specifically?
Yes.
Where can I find resources and get my questions answered?
We recommend the following resources: