AT&T announced the launch of a contest for full-time college students and staff to develop innovative and creative mobile applications that enhance academic performance, build campus community and help to improve campus security operations.

Called the Big Mobile On Campus Challenge, the contest is open to all full-time students and full- or part-time staff at a four-year public or private accredited, nonprofit college or university in the continental United States. Entrants must be 18 or older and legal residents of the continental U.S.

The contest opens April 1, 2008, and closes Aug. 31, 2008. After a judging period in September, the winner will be announced in October and receive a $10,000 scholarship – given to an individual or divided among the team members who developed the application – at the EduCause Annual Conference Oct. 28 – 31, 2008, in Orlando, Fla.

The Big Mobile On Campus Challenge seeks applications in three categories: social networking, academics, and safety and security. AT&T will choose three finalists in the three categories and then pick the top three overall. The two runners-up – either as an individual or team – will receive a $5,000 scholarship and device of choice for each entrant.