The annual Optus and NICTA ‘Unleash Your App’ competition has kicked off today, with Australian university students called on to develop Android-based applications for the chance to win $5000 in prize money.
The competition, which first launched in 2011, challenges students to create a new app with the aim of “making life easier”. The categories include health and education, lifestyle, news and entertainment, productivity, social networking and utilities.
“Optus is excited to get behind talented Australian students for the second time by providing them with financial, marketing and coaching support to help make their mobile app a success,” Optus' Digital Media director, Austin Bryan, said in a statement.
Zakaria Bouguettaya, a final year software engineering student from the Australian National University, won last year’s competition for the development of MyBus2.0. The app enables Canberra commuters to search bus timetables and maps the nearest stops using GPS, Sydney and Queensland commuters to quickly book taxis, and users to assign notes to locations.
The winner may have their app sold through the Optus App Store, as well as receive a Samsung Galaxy Note in addition to the $5000 cash prize.
The first two runners-up will also receive prize money and a smartphone on the Optus network.
To be eligible, submissions must be commercially viable and developed on the Android platform. Entries close 30 July 2012 at 5pm.
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