Samsung is ready to kick off an $800,000 contest for developers willing to build apps for the Galaxy S4 using the company's peer-to-peer software interface.

Developers who want to enter Samsung's "Smart App Challenge 2013" must make use of the Samsung Chord software development kit (SDK). Samsung Chord is a neat software interface designed for creating wireless connections directly between Samsung smartphones, eliminating the need of a mobile phone network or an online server.

End users, meanwhile, see Samsung's technology as "Group Play," which is a service for multiplayer games or sharing music, photos and other types of content with other owners of Samsung phones and tablets.

The South Korean tech giant is the world's largest smartphone manufacturer. At the same time, Samsung relies on Google's Android ecosystem to handle most of its online apps and offerings. Most of those goodies run on rival phones as well.

"With Samsung Smart App Challenge 2013, Samsung is going to boost mobile ecosystem," Won-Pyo Hong, President and Head of Samsung Electronics Media Solutions Center, touts in the press release. "At Samsung we will continue to encourage mobile developers to develop new and innovative applications with newly-launched features of GALAXY series. The Samsung Smart App Challenge will greatly enhance application choices for Galaxy S4 so users can enjoy a valuable experience."

According to the company, judging apps in the contest will take into account categories such as uniqueness, commercial potential and design. All interested participants must submit their work for consideration between June 20 and Aug. 31. The judging will run through November.

Along with the use of Chord, entries must also be eligible for sale on the "Samsung Apps" marketplace and use the company's application programming interfaces (APIs) for in-app purchases and displaying ads.

The contest will reward 10 overall winners, offering $200,000 to one first-place winner, $100,000 each to three second-place winners and $50,000 each to six third-place winners. Winning applications will also be candidates for investment from Samsung's venture arm, as well as promoted through Samsung's online properties and press events.

This is the second year Samsung holds this contest. Last year's competition involved the Samsung Galaxy Note and Galaxy Tab devices and the "Gun & Blood" app was the winner.