The ELEVEN API Lounge Sponsored by Alcatel-Lucent

Alcatel-Lucent is holding post inside the Hilton to introduce its new packaged API (Application Programming Interfaces) bundles. They’ve set up a swanky lounge with cushy white seats and purple uplighting. You can get a free beer, throw down some prosciutto-wrapped asparagus or play Guitar Hero on the big screen. But the real draw is AppIdol, your chance to submit an original mobile app idea that combines network infrastructure and content. A few ideas today: “A cab share app for SXSW” and “A gardening app to help identify bugs.”

After you post your purple sticky note to board, they transcribe it onto an idea wall that is now looking more like the product of a high school spirit team than a global telecom corporation. But hey, it’s all good. The daily winner goes home with a Bose SoundDock Portable Digitial Music System and the week’s top apps go on to Hollywood, er- development. We didn’t ask who will actually own the winning apps (submitter or Alcatel-Lucent). So be warned - all this finger food might just be our compensation.