IBM courts mobile developers for Watson platform

IBM CEO Ginny Rometty pitched mobile developers on Watson and launched a global competition to promote apps for the cognitive computing platform.

In a keynote at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Rometty outlined IBM's mobile strategy for Watson. Big Blue recently formed a Watson business group to focus on monetizing cognitive computing.

Rometty said that the IBM Watson Mobile Developer Challenge will run three months to court applications that leverage Watson’s technology. IBM said it will select three winners and support the developers to bring their apps to market.

For IBM, creating an ecosystem around Watson is critical. The reality is that IBM can't possibly develop Watson apps to target every use case across enterprises and industries.

Here's how the contest works:

• Developers will be invited to share their best mobile Watson app ideas and create prototypes.
• Three winners will join the Watson Ecosystem Program.
• The winners will work with IBM's Interactive Experience consulting practice to design and support the app.
• If all goes well, the Watson apps will become commercially viable.

So far, IBM has collected cognitive computing app ideas from 1,500 people and companies.

Previously: IBM's Watson Group invests in Welltok | IBM Watson heads to Africa with $100m investment | IBM CEO Rometty: Watson, cognitive computing mainstreaming begins | IBM forms Watson Business Group: Will commercialization follow?