Apple announced today that it is opening a lottery for developers interested in purchasing tickets to the company’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC). The lottery will run from today until April 7, in a stark contrast to previous years, when tickets have sold out in under two minutes.
The Microsoft Build conference, taking place this week in San Francisco, also sold out. Both Apple and Microsoft are working hard to court developers for their various platforms.
WWDC will be held at the Moscone West convention center from June 2 until June 6, and give developers a glimpse into the technical workings behind the the latest Apple software platforms. It’s likely to be a significant event for consumers as well, since Apple hasn’t yet announced any new products this year.
Usually, the WWDC keynote is an opportunity for Apple to unveil new versions of iOS and OS X, as well as some new hardware. Last year saw the unveiling of iOS 7 and OS 10.9, as well as refreshed MacBook Airs, and a sneak peek at the company’s new Mac Pro. While the rumor mill is abuzz about the possibility of Apple announcing an “iWatch” or some other wearable, it’s not clear if that will be announced at WWDC, if ever.
Apple will be offering 200 scholarships for qualifying students, and the company is going to be partnering with the National Center for Women & Information Technology to promote scholarships for women looking to attend the event.
For people who don’t land tickets to the event, Apple will be streaming its Monday morning “State of the Union” keynote as well as the Apple Design Awards, which the company hands out to developers for outstanding application design.
Interested developers can sign up for the lottery at developer.apple.com/wwdc. Tickets cost $1599, and developers who are picked from the lottery must purchase them by April 14.
