Local mobile operator Touch will soon launch its own Application Store enabling local apps developers to commercialize and advertise their apps.

Nadim Khater, Chief Commercial Officer at Touch, said the store will provide more benefits to developers than to Touch: “Developers posting their apps on our store will collect more than 80 percent of the revenues from the sale of their apps.”

Earlier, Touch had launched the ‘Touch Cloud’, a package of services that allow developers to build web and mobile apps in a fast and reliable way, with any operator, anywhere in the world. “Touch Cloud also greatly enhances development speed, resource optimization, and scalability,” said Khater.

Touch Cloud is still in its Beta phase. “Developers can now use the cloud for free, and fees will be set once the cloud goes into its commercial phase,” said Khater.

To promote the apps development culture and community, Touch has been leading a series of workshops and events since January. 

On April 6, Touch will launch ‘DevAppLB PitchFest’, a contest for apps-developers. Participants will have to create demo apps for the local market using Touch Cloud (or be willing to adapt their app to the program). They will then have to pitch their app and a basic business plan to a panel of investors, judges, and select members of the local mobile apps and startup community.

Winners will receive cash and in-kind prizes valued up to $30,000 to help in their startup development. This includes three months of free startup acceleration, technical support, major media exposure, mentorship, training by professional trainers and entrepreneurs in Lebanon and abroad, etc.

Earlier, Touch had held a similar contest called the ‘Hackathon’. The three winning apps were ‘Lakta’, ‘Menaversity’, and ‘Bala 3aj’a’. The winners received prizes including cash, technical equipment, mentorship, and business support.