Optus and NICTA launch mobile app competition for students

Undergraduate university students across Australia have been called on to develop Android-based applications for the 'Unleash your App' competition, with the chance to win $5000 in prize money.

The competition launched by NICTA and Optus challenges students to invent a “unique and innovative” Android mobile app for the purpose of “making life easier”. Categories include health and education, productivity, social networking, lifestyle, and news and entertainment.

Optus Digital Media director, Austin Bryan, said the mobile developer community was “thriving” since the rise of smartphones and tablets in recent years.

“We’ve joined forces with leading research institute, NICTA, to uncover the hidden talent and mobile innovation among our university students, and hope that this competition will inspire them to turn their great ideas into reality,” Bryan said in a statement.

The winning application will be sold via the Optus App Store, with the potential to be selected as a preloaded app on an Optus Android phone.

In addition to the $5000 cash prize, the winner will also receive a Samsung Galaxy S II Android smartphone.

The first two runners-up will also receive cash prizes and a smartphone on the Optus network.

The competition will give students "a wonderful opportunity to express their passion for research and innovation in a way that also engages with the real world," NICTA business director, Rob Fitzpatrick, said in a statement.

To be eligible, entries must be commercially viable and developed on the Android platform. Entries close on 31 October.

Follow Chloe Herrick on Twitter: @chloe_CW

Follow Techworld Australia on Twitter: @Techworld_AU

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