DVLUP: A winning program for Windows Phone developers and Nokia fans

Late last year Nokia created DVLUP, a new web-based community and rewards program for Windows Phone app developers. It combines the best features from video gaming (who wants to level up?), check-in apps like Foursquare, and loyalty programs like when you collect points from airline miles, and mashes all of those things together to come up with a unique experience that has developers coming back for more. 

  

Once developers join DVLUP (membership is free), they have the opportunity to compete with one another, complete quizzes and challenges, earn digital badges and points (aka XP) and then scoop up some nifty prizes along the way for all of their hard work.

The site has its own leaderboard, so developers can see their progress compared to fellow members, and they can quickly register to participate in new challenges that give them the opportunity to earn XP – the tougher the challenge, the more points that will be awarded.

But what’s in it for me?

While the DVLUP site is strictly FOR developers, those of us who use Nokia Lumia phones – and the cool apps you can find in Windows Phone Store – are the real beneficiaries of their work.

At this point, you may be scratching your head, thinking ‘How is that possible’?

As developers complete challenges, they are also working on apps and games for use on your Nokia Lumia. To get credit and earn points, they must successfully complete those challenges – and that means new content for you and me. The challenges include both updates to existing apps so improvements are being made, as well as reviews of quality, which ensure that the apps available are worth the download in the first place.

The power of many

Some of the challenges are linked to Nokia’s IdeasProject site, which means the initial inspiration for the challenges are coming directly from consumers who are thinking about new and creative ways to use their Nokia phones. Who knows – you could submit an idea that later becomes a DVLUP challenge, which in turn could become an app that you later get to use on you own phone. It is like one big circle of awesomeness for everyone involved.

Currently, DVLUP is open to Windows Phone developers in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Additional countries will be added to the program in the coming months – we are getting inquiries from developers worldwide who are eager to join in on the fun!

We’ll report about some of the leading members of the DVLUP community in the coming months, so you can get a close-up look at their work and their apps.

To keep up with all things DVLUP, follow their Twitter handle@DVLUP.