There's an app for that! Made in Vancouver

With mobile touch-screen devices like the iPhone exploding in popularity, so is the demand for software developers who can build apps, or applications, for them – and Vancouver is doing its best to answer that call.

BCIT student Ranyl Bantog is hoping that his new app, Codex, will be a success.

The game is a series of 30 special logic puzzles make up the many levels that he hopes will make him some big money one day.

"I'd be happy because it would cover my tuition," he said.

He might just be in luck. His BCIT program is one of the few courses offered in North America that teaches the specifics of so-called app software development. It's also an emerging high tech field in Vancouver that could start seeing a lot of new job creation.

"I think B.C. is a bit of a hotbed for iPhone app development now," instructor Richard Hart said.

"It seems to be picking up, and we had to actually turn away quite a few students this semester."

Scott Michaels's company, ATIMI, is among the biggest app developers in the world, and one of a number of Vancouver-based studios that make this city an industry leader.

"Because of the work that's being done here now it's probably San Francisco, Vancouver and then spread between New York and Toronto."

His list of clients include the Vancouver Canucks, ESPN, HBO and the New York Times. They're all companies paying top dollar for the best app possible in hopes of getting the undivided attention of every customer that downloads it to their handheld device.

The demand is undeniable and the reason why Michaels is always hiring.

"At the moment we're looking for six more people," he said.

Michaels says he'll pay salaries between $50,000 and $120,000, depending on the employee's level of skill.

And he says the best way to get your foot in the door is to do it yourself first.

"Going through the whole process and learning what you can and can't do and also learning how harsh the process is – and then you can come work for me," he said.

Depending on sales, Bantog may or may not be applying.

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Sarah Galashan