TASK tie-up with Samsung to help students build apps

HYDERABAD: Engineering students from farflung areas in the state might now be able to develop mobile apps. Samsung, which is partnering with the state government's Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge (TASK), will now set up an academy in the city with the aim of tapping young talent and training them in developing apps based on Samsung's Tizen operating system.
With the academy in place, student innovations based on Tizen technology will be much ahead of other states.The tie-up would enhance the potential for tapping Internet of Things (IOT) market better once the IOT boom comes in.
“The tie-up will enhance the overall ecosystem for innovation. In fact, similar tie-ups in USA and UK at the school level itself have ensured that school students develop and host applications in these countries. Whereas here, even engineering students are not able to host a website. Such training should start at the school level itself,“ pointed out Sundeep Kumar Makthala, president, Telangana Information Technology Association (TITA).
Currently , hunt for a suitable space for setting up the academy is on. “The plan has been finalized. Once the office space is zeroed in, it should take three to four months for the academy to start,“ said Sujiv Nair, CEO, TASK.
As per the plan, Samsung will set up the necessary infrastructure while training will be provided by master trainers at TASK. All students of colleges enrolled with TASK can avail the course spread over a fixed number of hours during their engineering course.
“As part of the training, students will learn about the operating system, create codes for apps and migrate apps into the Tizen store. The apps will be host ed on local or national level by Samsung at its app store, depending on the utility of the apps,“ added Nair.
Exclusive partnership between the state and Sam sung will not only allow students from rural backgrounds to turn innovators but also help them get direct seats at T-Hub apart from opening up job opportunities.
“It would be a great opportunity for micro entrepreneurs to build purpose-specific mobile apps that can go into the marketplace. All they need is to identify a good problem that can be solved through a mobile app. The power of the platform and the marketing push by Samsung will help propel the apps into markets,“ pointed out Ramesh Loganathan, mentor at T-Hub.