I have been part of Microsoft Tech Affiliate for just over a year now. I initially joined it just so that I can get some online promotion for my user group meetings and events I speak at.
Soon, they introduced rewards system where someone like me could earn points for hosting and/or speaking at events. I quickly ramped up on a bunch of points given my community participation and engagement.
To give you little background, I have been developing applications for Microsoft platforms for over a decade now. I have done desktop development, web development and most recently mobile app development pretty extensively. I love speaking at events, attending and even hosting my own events and hackathons as much as I can in my spare time, given a demanding day job.
You can find all my apps in the Windows Phone US Store at http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/store/publishers?publisherId=Paras%20Wadehra and in the Windows 8 Store at http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/app/978058d8-1380-4c28-8254-d1270d11ab69 and http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/app/15f6278c-3c3b-492e-a82f-691ad1b45f5b You will quickly see that I am a hobbyist when it comes to developing apps on my own - I developed games and entertainment apps as well as utility apps, social apps, movie apps, books and reference apps, among others. I have also helped develop a few big-name apps in the store that I cannot publicly take credit for.
Coming back on track with MS Tech Affiliate, they recently introduced a sweepstakes competition where any Windows Phone and Windows 8 developer can enter to win $1,000, $500 or $250 cash prize every month when they enter the sweepstakes at http://aka.ms/PaWa
Given my experience writing apps and helping developers already, this was an easy way for me to push developers to create new apps and enter them in the sweepstakes. Developers had a fun time learning and building apps for Windows Phone and Windows 8, and entering them in the sweepstakes. And what do you know, 4 individual developers whom I've helped develop apps have already been chosen as big winners as part of this sweepstakes.
I have received countless emails asking for help and then thanking me after their app gets published in the store. This is gratitude enough; the feeling of being able to help someone become a published app developer in itself is great, however, when you see the developer gaining success and popularity with his/her app, that feels even better :)
So what are you waiting for, enter all your Windows Phone and Windows 8 apps in the sweepstakes at http://aka.ms/PaWa and don't forget to ask for help when needed.
Sincerely,
Soon, they introduced rewards system where someone like me could earn points for hosting and/or speaking at events. I quickly ramped up on a bunch of points given my community participation and engagement.
To give you little background, I have been developing applications for Microsoft platforms for over a decade now. I have done desktop development, web development and most recently mobile app development pretty extensively. I love speaking at events, attending and even hosting my own events and hackathons as much as I can in my spare time, given a demanding day job.
You can find all my apps in the Windows Phone US Store at http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/store/publishers?publisherId=Paras%20Wadehra and in the Windows 8 Store at http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/app/978058d8-1380-4c28-8254-d1270d11ab69 and http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/app/15f6278c-3c3b-492e-a82f-691ad1b45f5b You will quickly see that I am a hobbyist when it comes to developing apps on my own - I developed games and entertainment apps as well as utility apps, social apps, movie apps, books and reference apps, among others. I have also helped develop a few big-name apps in the store that I cannot publicly take credit for.
Coming back on track with MS Tech Affiliate, they recently introduced a sweepstakes competition where any Windows Phone and Windows 8 developer can enter to win $1,000, $500 or $250 cash prize every month when they enter the sweepstakes at http://aka.ms/PaWa
Given my experience writing apps and helping developers already, this was an easy way for me to push developers to create new apps and enter them in the sweepstakes. Developers had a fun time learning and building apps for Windows Phone and Windows 8, and entering them in the sweepstakes. And what do you know, 4 individual developers whom I've helped develop apps have already been chosen as big winners as part of this sweepstakes.
I have received countless emails asking for help and then thanking me after their app gets published in the store. This is gratitude enough; the feeling of being able to help someone become a published app developer in itself is great, however, when you see the developer gaining success and popularity with his/her app, that feels even better :)
So what are you waiting for, enter all your Windows Phone and Windows 8 apps in the sweepstakes at http://aka.ms/PaWa and don't forget to ask for help when needed.
Sincerely,
Paras Wadehra
Nokia Developer Ambassador
Nokia Developer Ambassador
INETA Community Champion
Microsoft Windows Phone
Champ
