AT&T and One Economy Announce Contest to Develop Public Purpose Mobile Applications

$50,000 in Prizes Given to Developers Who Create Best Applications to Improve Lives

WASHINGTON, March 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AT&T* and One Economy, a global nonprofit at the forefront of bringing broadband opportunity to underserved communities, announced at the South by Southwest Music Conference and Festival (SXSW) a unique contest for developers to design public purpose mobile applications to help low-income users improve their lives. AT&T and One Economy are offering $50,000 in prizes to software developers who design applications that help families find jobs, get healthy, improve education and build financial security. The contest began on March 14 and will run through May 16, 2011.

Earlier this year, One Economy launched www.applicationsforgood.org, a platform for software developers, game designers, students and other innovators to collaborate on creating applications for social and economic development. Participants can enter the contest and view details about the rules at www.applicationsforgood.org.

A panel of judges from top corporations, education and financial organizations will choose one winner in each of the following categories: Jobs, Health, Education and Banking, in addition to the grand prize winner who will receive $10,000. Applications on any operating system will be accepted. The public will also have an opportunity to vote for a popular choice winner through the website.

"This is a chance for software developers to become groundbreaking pioneers in a new area and deliver innovative, life changing solutions for people across the United States and around the world," said Carlton Hill, Vice President of Device Operations and Product Development at AT&T. "AT&T is happy to support this contest with One Economy and we challenge innovators, problem solvers and individuals to be a part of social and economic change."

According to a Pew Research Center report, lower-income households often access the Internet on mobile phones and devices in place of home Internet connections. Those without computers and high speed Internet in-home are disproportionately people of color. 87% of African Americans and Latinos own smart or feature phones and are more likely to take advantage of a wide array of phone data functions.  

"We must constantly challenge ourselves to seek creative ways to meet people where they are in delivering vital online resources to underserved communities," said Kelley Dunne, President and CEO, One Economy Corporation. "Ensuring digital opportunity for every resident, regardless of income will take a comprehensive, collaborative and innovative approach. We are proud to work with AT&T in harnessing the imagination and creative spirit of software developers that can truly have a resounding impact on people's lives."  

ABOUT AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile broadband and emerging 4G capabilities, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse^® and AT&T - DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. 

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.  This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT.

Mobile broadband not available in all areas. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

ABOUT ONE ECONOMY

One Economy is a global non-profit that uses innovative approaches to deliver the power of technology and information to low-income people.  More than 19 million people have used One Economy's online tools and resources on its Public Internet Channel www.pic.tv to build better lives. To date, One Economy has launched on the ground programs in 42 U. S. states, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.

SOURCE One Economy