Ahead of the platform's global roll out later in 2012, Microsoft has unveiled a new developer challenged designed to drum up support for Windows 8.

The app building contest will take place in Seattle, with those taking part handed a total of four weeks to develop titles for the firm's flagship OS.

School's up

Competitors won't have to go it alone, however.

Over the course of those four weeks, Microsoft will host a number of sessions designed to school developers in all areas of the firm's Windows 8 business.

 

Covered in the sessions at Seattle's SURF Incubator will be, amongst other topics, how best to work with Windows 8's Metro UI to the opportunities the platform represents.

To be eligible for a prize – the number of which hasn't been made public Microsoft – developers will need to at the least the first session on 20 June and the last on 18 July.

Up for grabs will be Nokia's Windows Phone-powered Lumia 900, with more details available on Microsoft's World Wide Events website.