The GSMA has announced two separate contests for developers interested in creating apps for both leading global consumer brands as well as some of the biggest bands in the music industry. Firstly, the association is now accepting entries for its Brand App Challenge in which developers design apps for a group of leading global consumer companies, including Coca-Cola. “The Brand App Challenge will create networking and business opportunities which benefit the brands, application developers and the broader mobile ecosystem,” said Michael O’Hara, chief marketing officer at the GSMA.  Developers will compete by creating customised mobile apps for the participating brands based on the aims provided by the individual companies. The apps will address a wide range of mobile operating systems including Android, Apple iOS, BlackBerry OS 6, HP webOS, Symbian and Windows Phone 7. Developers can sign up for the Brand App Challenge via an online portal and then upload a brief video demonstrating their proposed brand app. Each brand will select five finalists who will then compete to become the ultimate winner for the respective brands. Submissions for the challenge will be accepted until January 10 and the finalists will be named approximately one month before February’s Mobile World Congress. The winners of the challenge will be announced at the Congress and will receive cash awards for their efforts. More details on the submission process can be found here.

Secondly, the GSMA has linked up with leading bands Muse and Faithless, as well as new artists Metric and Eliza Doolittle, for the Band App Audition. The contest is for developers to create an app that enables musicians to keep in touch with their fans all over the world. The GSMA has organised the competition, which is open between now and January 15, 2011, in partnership with the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) and the Music Managers Forum (MMF). The finalists and winners will be announced at the App Planet event at February’s Congress. Prizes for winners of the Band App Audition include the opportunity to develop a mobile app for the participating bands. App developers can download individual mobile app briefs, along with graphics, tracks and other content assets, from each of the artists here.