Would you like the chance to win ?2,000 by building an app that shows when the next bus will turn up?

The Manx ICT Association is holding a competition and inviting all companies, individuals and students in the Isle of Man to submit proposals for a mobile app, website or visualisation which shows bus information in the Isle of Man. The top 3 proposals will be given access to a real time data feed that shows the current location of all buses in service as they move around the Island and asked to build a real product that can be used by the public to find out information about their bus, such as where it is and if it is running on time.

A prize of ?2,000 is being offered for the top application created with this data feed, with 2 runner-up prizes of ?500. But the incentives don’t just end there. As part of the reward for being the winners or runner up, the 3 app developers will be given exclusive access to the real time feed so that the company or individual who built the app can derive commercial benefit from their position in the marketplace.

Proposals for the competition need to be submitted by Monday 15th February and will be judged on how they will benefit the public, how they intend to generate income (if any) and how the solution will be delivered. Preference will be given to applications that display innovation and are available on all mobile and tablet platforms as well as and desktop; and those that are free to the end-user. The top 3 solutions will then be given access to the data feed to allow them to build their product by the end of March.

Kurt Roosen, Chief Executive of MICTA said: "This is an opportunity for application developers on the island to show their creativity and capability. We hope this will be the start of an increasing number of innovative items that emerge from Government Digital Strategy and can be fulfilled locally."

If you’re interested in learning more, please contact Tracy at tracy@micta.im or on 827030 for more details.