According to Gartner Research, about 4.5 billion mobile applications will be downloaded in 2010, an 80 percent increase from 2009. As such, AT&T; has decided to take advantage of the tech-savey college students to create the next “killer mobile app.”

The winning student will be awarded a $10,000 scholarship for designing the best e-learning application.

The contest began March 1, 2010, and entries will be accepted until September 15, 2010.

The AT&T; Big Mobile on Campus Challenge judges e-learning mobile applications based on usability, quality, innovation, utility and marketability. Five finalists will be chosen from across the US. There will be three final winners, though the schools of all five finalists will receive memberships to AT&T;’s Developer Program.

Teams of no more than four, full-time students are allowed, and the prize money will be distributed equally among the members.

Contest rules, application forms, and further details on the 2010 AT&T; Big Mobile on Campus Challenge can be found at http://bigmobileoncampus.wireless.att.com.