Apparently unhappy with the current Skype for Mac version, the VoIP company is soliciting users, developers, fans, whoever to design the next look for the application.
In what looks authentic enough not to be construed as an April Fools Day joke (we think), Skype has posted rules and regulations for a three-stage competition that will last over three weeks. Skype has also made a template available, but note that contestants can only alter the chat style CSS and images.
Eager designers can start submitting entries on April 8. The grand prize and winner will be revealed on June 16. Two winners will be selected each week for both Judges’ and People’s choice awards. These six entrants will battle it out for the first place spot.
The prizes are no laughing matters either. Besides having your app lauded around the world (and likely hated by some too), the grand prize also includes an 11-inch MacBook Air and a (Wi-Fi-only) iPad 2. Second-tier prizes include an Apple TV set and a copy of CSS3 for Web Designers. That last gift might not sound as exciting, but participating in this Skype contest could turn out to be a fun project at least.
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