Microsoft has launched a competition with prizes of up to $15,000 for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 apps that have a positive impact on the world around them.

If you’ve got an idea for an app that will make the world a better place, the latest Microsoft competition is aimed at you, as long as you are a US resident aged 18 or over.

The Windows 8 Apps for Good Contest is designed to encourage developers to create apps that positively impact the world around them.

The remit of the competition is pretty wide, but crucially means someone has to benefit from using the app.

To quote the Microsoft Citizenship blog:

For the purposes of the contest, Microsoft Citizenship defines a social good application as “a good or service that provides some sort of benefit to the general public and doesn’t solely exist to provide the maximum possible return to shareholders.” Some examples of social issues include clean water, literacy, food security and a healthy environment. These are all issues that can be aided through the creative use of technology, including apps.’

The competition is designed to celebrate the launch of Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 (or rather more cynically, to persuade developers to write some apps for those platforms that will look good for Microsoft).

There are three cash prizes up for grabs:

• Best Overall Windows 8 App: $15,000
• Best Overall Windows Phone 8 App: $15,000
• People’s Choice: $10,000

and each winner is also awarded a Windows Phone.

To enter the competition, you need to create a Windows 8 or Windows Phone 8 app focused on social good; publish it on the Windows Store or Windows Phone Store; then register the application project on the contest website.

The contest, which is regrettably in this electronic world, open only to US residents aged 18 or over (see Rules for more restrictions) opened on November 5, 2012 and all entries are due by February 28, 2013. After the contest ends, Microsoft Citizenship will open up the entries for public voting, which will end on March 15, 2013. The contest winners will be announced on March 25, 2013.