Technology giants woo 14-year-old iPhone app designer

A London schoolboy who designs iPhone applications is being flown to Spain to act as an adviser at a technology conference.

Dylan Maryk, 14, from Kensington, was given the assignment after industry chiefs read an interview with him in the Evening Standard.

Organisers of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week have asked Dylan to report on the conference to help CEOs from Google, Spotify and Vodafone attract young people to the event.

He said: "I'm really looking forward to Barcelona — it should be fun. They emailed me the same day the story was printed.

"I'm mostly looking forward to the exhibitions that show new phones and technology that haven't been released yet. There's also a special section for app development."

His latest app — launched for Valentine's Day — allows people to flirt using their iPhone. iWink-users choose from a selection of kisses and hearts and hold them up to their valentine.

Dylan said: "My dad gave me the idea. It's the first app that I've coded myself."

He started designing the software a year ago so that he could contribute to his school fees for Ashbourne College.

His first app, AlarmMusic, has been downloaded about 3,000 times and he is looking for a business partner to help his company, MicroApps, expand.

Dylan's father Denis is also going to Barcelona. Mr Maryk, 60, said: "I'm very excited that he is going to be introduced to some of the leaders in the industry."