AT&T Calls on Higher Ed To Develop Mobile Apps
AT&T this week kicked off its first-ever Big Mobile On Campus Challenge, a competition that calls on college and university faculty and students to develop apps for mobile devices (yes, including the iPhone). The top prize includes $10,000 and a trip to Educause 2008 for the winning individual or team.
According to AT&T, entries can be in one of three categories: social networking, academics, or safety/security. Ideally, the apps would run across platforms (OS X, WAP, JAVA, RIM BlackBerry J2ME, Linux, Palm OS, Symbian, Windows Mobile) and device types (voice and data). Entries also need to include a "business case, including distribution concepts and plans, and supporting documents (PDFs or a PowerPoint presentation) with one screen shot of the application on a mobile device," according to the competition's rules.
First prize is a trip to Educause, $10,000, and a choice of mobile devices. Two runners up will receive $5,000 and a choice of mobile devices. Students who wish to enter must be enrolled full-time at a public or private (accredited, non-profit), four-year college or university in the United States and be a legal resident of the continental United States. Faculty and staff can be full- or part-time. Teams can consist of up to four individuals.
The 2008 Big Mobile competition is open now and closes Aug. 31. Judging will take place in September, and winners will be announced Oct. 1. More information on entering the competition can be found on AT&T's Big Mobile Challenge site here.