Posts Tagged ‘Mobile Application’

SCVNGR offers a user friendly Location-Based Mobile Gaming Platform

Monday, August 16th, 2010

SCVNGR has managed a remarkable growth in the short span of time of its existence. As a start-up company they made themselves distinct from the rest with the idea of a location-based Mobile gaming.

The company was initially founded with the intention of making use of the mobility of Mobile devices. The thought was to bring together digital interactivity and real world interaction. SCVNGR was thus formed. However, within this short period it has become much more than just that. It facilitates individuals and institutions worldwide to use their ideas, imagination, creativity to create real-world Mobile games, tours, alternate reality games, etc using their absolutely easy and user friendly platform.

SCVNGR was launched last year primarily as a gaming engine to facilitate big corporations such as the US Army, Princeton University and retail chains having 20-plus outlets. However the focus is now more on the consumer directly. The enterprise tool allows clients to fabricate Mobile games based on the challenges thrown up by the real world. Users are awarded for successful taking up challenges such as clicking a photo, responding to questions and such other tasks. For every such successful attempt the clients accumulate points by checking into various locations.

Institutions are able to buy out a credit to create a challenge through this only-of-its-kind business model offered by SCVNGR. The pocket pinch differs with respect to the vertical and the amount bought. Say for example, it could cost an university approximately $5,000 to purchase 25 credits.

Seth Priebatsch, Chief Executive Officer at SCVNGR claims that the model is running absolutely fine. His confidence is well supported with the fact that over 600 institutions have by now registered themselves gaining a striking 91% return rate. 100% of SCVNGR’s revenue is generated through the enterprise platform. The platform through its support and analytics will facilitate this newly formed company to generate encouraging cash flows in the following months with staff strength of around 45 people.

Lancome Interactive Beauty App Builds a special intimate relation with its customers

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

Lancôme, a leading French cosmetics company utilized both the iPhone App and Social Media to introduce “Declare Indigo”. It is the new range of make-up by the Creative Director of Make-up in Lancôme, Aaron de Mey. The exercise is nothing but an attempt to create a special intimate relation between the customer and the brand.

Women can test the new color combinations; obtain valuable advices from experts in Lancôme. Julie Thompson, Interactive Marketing & CRM Director of Lancôme says, “Lancôme was the first brand in the Market to launch a Mobile Commerce Website in Japan in 2007. Today, we continue our strategy of innovation in offering an iPhone Application that makes full use of the possibilities of the touchpad. We are committed to the sensation and are ready to offer an experience that is intuitive and truly personalized.”

The consumers can design a total look by using the Declare Indigo products on a virtual model face in the “Create Your Look” segment of the app. The touchscreen enables you to do all this most effortlessly. You can go ahead and save your creation and also text it to your friends. The message as received by your friends will be a full colour image with instructions of how to download the Lancôme app.

Lancôme news feeds are also provided through this app which keeps the consumers updated with Lancôme’s initiatives all over the world. The Make-up Blog having a string of information about make-up from Lancôme’s experts was also launched. This provides a true chance for discussion with the brand’s National Make-up artists who can download their knowledge and expertise to the consumers. The consumers can also enjoy conversing with Aaron de Mey and the Lancôme National Make-up Artists, “making of” videos and backstage photos and clips.

Mobile Agency Phonevalley, a subsidiary of Publicis group designed and put into practice the iPhone Declare Indigo app which is accessible in English and Chinese. Customers are being intimated about this new app through weekly emails and Lancôme’s 15 existing web sites worldwide.

Mobile App Downloads will peak in 2013 and reach 7 billion around the world

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

By 2013, the Mobile Web will be the principal means of Mobile Communication. The Mobile App downloads from different App Stores will keep growing and optimise in 2013, as predicted by ABI Research in their latest report. The new “Mobile Application Storefronts” study by ABI Research looks into the roadblocks, summarizes possible way-out and also explains upcoming different distribution channels. Their predictions consist of region wise breakup of total downloads, Market Share percentages and retails value of apps sold in all segments by Smartphone OS.

As per the findings of the research by ABI round about 2.4 billion applications were downloaded from App Stores. It is projected that within 2013 the Smartphone download rate will pick up the pace and will reach near about 7 billion. The Mobile Web is expected to capture the Market then.

“App stores aren’t going away: following the 2013 peak in demand, the number of downloads in 2015 will have decreased only 7 or 8%. But as our use of the Mobile Internet evolves, demand will increasingly shift elsewhere”, said Senior Analyst Mark Beccue. “We see two emerging trends: first, many applications (increasingly built on web standards) will migrate from App Stores to regular Websites, and for some sites you won’t need an app at all. In addition, more and more popular Applications will be preloaded on Mobile devices. Social Networking Apps in particular will be pre-loaded on new products.”

The Apple App Store is projected to remain at the apex of the app segment. However ABI Research also predicts that there will be a slow down turn in the rate of downloads from the different App Stores, following the peak in 2013 which would be more due to a temporary saturation in consumer satisfaction. With each passing day the Mobile Web is becoming more elaborate and refined therefore there will be an increase in the number of subscribers who use the functionality more than dedicated apps on the Mobile Websites.

NIKE Way True City, a successful Mobile App Campaign

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

After the success of Nike Plus, Nike is enhancing their Mobile App Campaign initiative by launching Nike True City. It comprises of a location-based city guide including a Social Media component covering 6 most fascinating cities of Europe namely London, Paris, Berlin, Milan, Amsterdam, and Barcelona.

Nike True City App has been developed by AKQA. The App enables the users to keep pace with the almost everything that’s happening in these cities. The App provides a wide variety of information ranging from food and drink to Music, Art, Culture, Shopping and Sport. The geo tagged information Appears on the screen with icons on the local map. One also has the option to chose the contents by using the filters and concentrate on the activity of their choice.

On clicking on a chosen item, a tiny window pops up, giving further details of that place along with messages from the provider, snaps, etc. The user can also comment on the location and share it with his friends and family through the Social Networking sites. Special contents can be “unlocked” using the special QR code reader in few locations.

While common users contribute the information “Nike Insiders” also do play a major role. These are nominated workforce in each city who contribute with contents on their places of choice and hidden treasures. Nike claims “these cultural authorities take pride in owning their cities and sharing their knowledge with likeminded Nike lovers.”

The Buzz Filter allows previews of forthcoming events and product launches. This App displays photos of about to be launched products and also the countdown to the launch. It even provides knowledge about the Design and Designer.

Nike is Marketing the launch of Nike True City App through their Website. A video with high quality pictures introducing the App is also worth watching. This is all part of their extensive PR exercise to promote the App.

Geotoko App helps local Business Campaigns for location Services

Friday, July 30th, 2010

One more Location-based Startup has been started however this one finds itself dissimilar than the most that emulates the one’s already in existence. This one from TechCrunch Disrupt has created one much different from others.

Geotoko, as it is being named is an app created to let businesses operate contests, sweepstakes and various campaigns through the check-in functionality of already available location-based services like Gowalla and Foursquare. Hence instead to trying to redo the whole thing it just aims at adding value to the existing LBS available in the Market.

Geotoko provides a control panel for businesses to build their site for promotional campaigns. The site will combine Check-in and Geolocation input data from Foursquare, Twitter and Gowalla at present for the location of the business together with campaign details or promotions like prizes, freebies, etc. They also plan to add on Facebook, Brightkite, etc in days to come.

For instance a coffee shop can design a campaign to launch a new drink by giving away free coffee to customers who check-in through this app. Geotoko allows the outlet to administer the check-ins and have a common point for hype around the promotion, where everyone checking in can witness others doing so. Businesses can also track the traffic flow of all the locations.

With so many LBS available in the Market businesses are excited but not sure about where to start with. Business “dashboards” are being launched by different LBS providers which facilitate local business and brands to introduce one-of-its kind campaigns however it limits itself to a certain section. Suppose a business creates a campaign based on Foursquare it does not include any one using Gowalla, Yelp, Brightkite and such dozens other LBS.

Accumulating and providing a complete way out for businesses and brands to make us of the LBS ecosystem is a wonderful thought but it would be of use only if implemented effectively. Geotoko looks to have the potential but how far will it succeed will have to be seen in the days to come.