Archive for the ‘Customers’ Category
(mt) Media Temple and Mobile Roadie Talk Pro, Announce Virb Partnership
posted by Michael ArcandOur friends over at (mt) Media Temple came by before the launch of Mobile Roadie Pro and sat down with Michael Schneider and Brock Batten about the product and where we’re headed moving forward. Check out the video then check out the (mt) app.
Media Temple is a hosting company which we are proud not only to have as our friends and clients, but also to use as our very own hosting company. (mt) Media Temple customers can manage their hosting accounts, get support and buy domain names through the (mt) AccountCenter for iPhone web app, without leaving the native app.
Another project from the team at (mt) is Virb, a unique way to build an elegantly simple website. Although the service hasn’t launched yet, we’re excited about teaming up with Virb to provide our app resources to the Virb website platform. With a Virb website and an integrated MoRo app, you’ll be able to update your app’s photos, videos, songs and more – right from your website. That’s right, your updated web info will be pushed out from Virb to your app on the fly, eliminating the need to add stuff through the MoRo CMS.
You can check out our other business partners on our partners page.
Former Olympians Build Swimming App
posted by Michael Arcand
Go Swim is a joint venture between Glenn Mills and Barbara Hummel. Glenn was a member of the 1980 Olympic Swim Team and is a Masters world record holder. Barbara is a veteran of two Olympic Trials and is currently a coach and world Masters Top-Ten Swimmer. Between them they have over 50 years of high-level competition and coaching experience, and are both learn-to-swim instructors. I had the privilege of chatting with Glenn on the phone recently to talk about his business and Mobile Roadie app.
Why did you build the app?
Coaches, swimmers … everyone uses technique material, but it’s always away from the pool. We want to get people the information that they can use when and where they actually use it. We wanted to test the waters, so to speak, to see if a mobile app is a viable way of doing this.
Are you using it the way you envisioned?
We try to take advantage of the Mobile Roadie app as much as possible. We serve our own videos, upgraded with Mobile Roadie’s help. We needed more bandwidth than YouTube was able to offer, so they helped us with that. We use the Fan Wall as well as Pictures, which are updated each week. We also have our Twitter feed and RSS news from popular swimming websites. The app reflects our website in a good way. There is tons of content on the app, and we’ve got tons of content on the website as well. Our business model is to give away some information, but also drive more people back to the website for DVD sales.
What have you discovered or been surprised by the most?
The Fan Wall is probably the thing that surprised me the most. We get a lot of kids on the app – more than on the website. Kids are used to this format more because of things like Twitter and texting. So the demographics, I would say, are that the app is used by a lot of younger people. Moderation is easy with Mobile Roadie, because it’s all done online. And as these kids grow and become more serious swimmers, we’re there for them. We want to think long-term with our brand and develop our market going forward.
How has your experience been working with the Mobile Roadie platform?
Its’ very stable. For someone like myself and our business, we don’t have a ton of time to chase around the tech side of things. We are content creators for a niche market. So, having something that’s been so relatively easy to put together has been important. In creating all this content, we need to be able to focus on creating the content. The stability has been tremendous for us. The upgrades and features, like Ustream, to have something like that just show up – I don’t think we’d be able to develop something like that on our own. It keeps us on the cutting edge, and helps us stay ahead of the competition. I’ve also been surprised by how responsive the support staff is, all the way up to the top of the company. Makes a small business like ours feel important.
You can download the Go Swim app here: http://road.ie/go-swim
Mobile Roadie in the U.K.
posted by Michael ArcandMobile Roadie is pleased to announce the appointment of Stephen O’Reilly as our U.K. & Ireland representative. Stephen will be overseeing our expansion into the U.K. & Ireland and will be on the ground in London, working closely with our current partners and clients and helping to develop new opportunities.
Stephen is really excited to be a part of the Mobile Roadie team and has shared his thoughts with us:
“I am really looking forward to this great opportunity of working alongside Michael and his team. After many years working with clients in the fashion, sports and music industry I can’t wait to see what lies ahead. I have been a huge fan of mobile apps and the possibilities they present. Mobile is with us everywhere, and by reaching people anywhere they are, you have a huge opportunity to sell, promote, engage, and be remembered. Mobile Roadie is already working with some of the biggest names in music, sports and film and I hope to build on an already impressive roster of clients.”
Michael Schneider, our CEO, had the following to say about the European market:
“Investing in Europe is a top priority for Mobile Roadie as the smart phone and app market is rapidly taking off. Our existing customers in Europe appreciate being able to leverage our amazing technology homegrown in California, combined with our local sales and support.”
Stephen joins an already strong European presence, with reps in France, Germany, and Spain.
If you have an interest in developing a mobile app for your business in the U.K. or just have questions, you can contact Stephen using one of the methods below.
Twitter ID - @steoreilly
Email - stephen@mobileroadie.com
Welcome to the team Stephen!
Comedy Apps Deliver Laughs and Customers
posted by Michael ArcandWe’ve started taking a look at various business models that are using mobile apps to reach their customers and generate new business, such as photography apps. Today we want to take a look at what a mobile app can do for comedians and comedy clubs. So let’s start off by taking a look at one of today’s hottest comedians and his app on the Mobile Roadie platform.
Jamie Kennedy is a comedian and actor who rose to stardom in the 1990s in the Scream series of horror films, playing the role of Randy Meeks, the video store hero. He garnered his own stand up comedy reality show on the WB Network from 2002-2004, called The Jamie Kennedy Experiment. More recently he has starred in the CBS series Ghost Whisperer, as well as lending his voice to FOX’s animated comedy, The Cleveland Show. Now you can catch more of Kennedy’s comedy action on his official iPhone app.
Download the Jamie Kennedy app here: http://road.ie/jamie-kennedy
The Laughter Lounge is one of Ireland’s premiere comedy clubs, with four venues: Dublin, Belfast, Galway and Waterford. The original location opened their doors in 1997 and quickly became one of the most popular comedy venues in the country. Their iPhone app allows them to post full details on forthcoming shows, videos, news, photos and it is where they also post all of their best ticket deals. If you’re in Ireland or planning a trip there soon, this app is a must-have for entertainment while you’re there.
Download the Laughter Lounge app here: http://road.ie/laughter-lounge
The Sin City Comedy Show is one of Las Vegas’ most highly acclaimed attractions, creating a mixture of burlesque dance and comedy, keeping audiences entertained. The venue has a rotating lineup of nationally known comics perform each night, with stars of Comedy Central, Letterman, The Tonight Show, VH1, HBO, and from famous comedy clubs around the country. The Sin City Comedy Show is produced by Emmy award winner John Padon. Now, with the iPhone app, they are sharing videos of these great comedians on Apple’s mobile devices.
Download the Sin City Comedy app here: http://road.ie/sin-city
Still don’t think a mobile app is right for your business model? Why don’t you take a tour of Mobile Roadie, then give us a call. Let’s see what we can do for you!
Fan of Drake’s (@drakkardnoir)? Get the app!
posted by Michael Arcand
Just in time for summer…it’s the official Drake app!
Aubrey Drake Graham, better known simply as ‘Drake’, is a Canadian recording artist whose latest album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. However, his first claim to fame came as an actor on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation. He officially signed with Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment in 2009 and his first studio album, Thank Me Later, was released earlier this month.
So far, Drake has worked with quite a few recognized names in the hip hop industry besides Lil Wayne, including Jeezy, Kanye West, Eminem and Jay-Z. Drake was also nominated for a Grammy Award and was selected to perform at the 2010 Grammy Awards based on the success of an earlier mixtape that was turned into a successful EP, So Far Gone. He won Best New Artist and Rap Recording of the Year at the Juno awards earlier this year.
Now, with his new official app on the Mobile Roadie platform, you can be the first to hear brand new music, news, tour dates, photos, and more features available anywhere else!
Download the new Drake app for free here: http://road.ie/drake-app
Infected Mushroom App in Time for #EDC! (@infectedtwitt)
posted by Michael Arcand
Psy-Trance innovators, Infected Mushroom, (@infectedtwitt) have become one of the biggest electronic bands on the planet. Twice ranked among the world’s 10 best DJs by the bible of the scene, the U.K.’s DJ Magazine, the Israel-bred, Los Angeles based duo bring a frenetic rock energy to the form. Their explosive show, featuring guitars, live drums, intensely passionate vocals and an ambitious multimedia backdrop, ranks among the genre’s most unpredictably joyous events.
The band’s founders, Erez Eisen and Amit Duvdevani (also known as I.Zen and Duvdev), started performing together as a duo in 1998. By 1999, they’d created Infected Mushroom and released their debut album, The Gathering. Guitarists Tom Cunningham and Erez Netz were brought on board in 2004 and Brazilian percussionist Rogério Jardim joined in 2007 to play percussion and drums. The band has a total of nine albums released to date, with their latest offering, Legend of the Black Shawarma (2009), reaching the number nine spot on the U.S. Billboard Top Electronic Albums chart. The track “Killing Time” featuring Perry Farrell is currently #24 on the Billboard dance charts.
The release of the app is timed with the internationally-attended Electric Daisy Carnival in Los Angeles, happening June 25 and 26th in downtown’s Exposition Park & The L.A. Coliseum. Infected is a headliner and will be performing live at the Circuit Ground Stage on Friday the 25th from 8:00-11:00pm. Want a taste? Download the app (http://road.ie/infected-mushroom) and get official news, listen to tracks, watch show and behind-the-scenes footage from a selection of 25 videos, browse photos, post comments on the fan wall, get the latest show schedule, and more. What else do you want, a cookie? Get on it!
If you’ve never had the chance to attend EDC and shake your shizz, check out the official 2010 trailer below.
Announcing the @DJShadow App
posted by Michael Arcand
Joshua Paul Davis, otherwise known as DJ Shadow, has been at the forefront of instrumental hip hop and turntable sampling since the early 90s. His first full-length album, Endtroducing, was hailed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the first completely sampled album. His work is exceptionally varied, featuring elements of funk, rock, hip hop, ambient, jazz and soul; all from his collection of over 60k album titles. The Mobile Roadie staff is a big fan of his work, and we’re proud to be able to present his work in a mobile platform supported by our very own CMS. In addition to being the first app to use our new API, the DJ Shadow app is also the first to use Soundcloud integration and custom theme. It’s perfect timing too, with a tour coming up in just a few days and brand new website that just launched today.
I recently had a chance to catch up with Michael Fiebach from Reconstruction Productions, who is the project, marketing and merchandise manager for DJ Shadow. We had a great discussion about the new Official DJ Shadow app and what the future plans are for this new mobile tool.
First, I asked Michael why they decided to get a mobile app and what he thought it brought to their business model. Among the reasons he mentioned is the fact that it’s another important way to build the fan base. They already have a huge email list and a website that gets good traffic, along with an online store. Push notifications are also important to the team, because it represents a new type of email list, to push information out to the fan base. They know it’s important if you have your own business, to have an app. As Michael said, a mobile app is like the new website. Every business these days has a website, and within 3-5 years he believes it will be the same way with mobile apps.
The app contains streaming bonus tracks, but in addition it features the Shadow radio show within the app. These are hour-long radio sets of DJ Shadow mixing unique and obscure music. The app currently has six shows listed, so there is already over six hours of music on the app, with plans to continue updating these sets moving forward.
The team’s promotion of the app thus far has been interesting and unique. In addition to promoting the app via the website, DJ Shadow plans to utilize a visual screen during his shows to engage the audience and encourage people to download the app and to share photos of the event they are attending. It also promotes the DJ Shadow website, so those without an app can participate. Then the app syncs the content between the app and the website, so people can access it using either method.
As for why they decided to go with Mobile Roadie, it was access to the API that made the deal. The new API allows them to engage fans, show comments and sync everything to the website, which helps drive people to the site. Michael indicated that they couldn’t find another company that had a system in place that was as easy as Mobile Roadie. For them, consolidation of these points was key.
The show pages that sync with the Mobile Roadie API can all be viewed at djshadow.com/tour (click on a corresponding show link to see that show’s page, which utilizes the MoRo API). Notice you can check in, comment and add photos from a show; all of this content is shown in the app and at the djshadow.com show page.
After our conversation about the DJ Shadow app, I asked Michael what he thought about Mobile Roadie’s services. Here’s what he had to say:
“I think MoRo is a great company and that they offer anything anyone would need in terms of mobile apps. They have great plans for the future and plans to engage customers and I’m really looking forward to working with them as this market expands and evolves. I encourage anyone looking to get a mobile app to check out Mobile Roadie and if you like good music, download the DJ Shadow app.”
You can download the DJ Shadow app here: http://road.ie/dj-shadow
New App Spotlight: Seven Venues, Sydney Party, iShade, GirlGamer & ADA
posted by Michael ArcandEach week the number of Mobile Roadie-powered apps continues to grow, and with that growth comes continued diversity. In the last two weeks alone we’ve seen apps created to help users find parties, locate cool destinations within a particular city and share their experiences, and a girls’ gaming portal. But it’s not all fun and games. We’ve also seen apps designed particularly for a professional group, as well as a medical association’s upcoming event. Check out these unique apps below, and think about what a Mobile Roadie powered app could do for your city, group or business!
SevenVenues: This app is all about the city of Norfolk, Virginia. Released on June 7, this app allows visitors to find shows for Chrysler Hall, Harbor Park, Attucks Theatre, Harrison Opera House, Wells Theatre, The Scope, and the Prism Theatre at The Scope Arena. In addition, app users can get concert updates and discount tickets to events as well. It’s a must-have app if you’re planning a recreational trip in Norfolk.
Dowload the SevenVenues app here: http://road.ie/sevenvenues
Sydney Party: Sydney Party is all about, you guessed it, Sydney, Australia. This one isn’t from the chamber of commerce though, and is actually a crowd-sourced app where users can provide feedback and ratings for clubs and party locations listed. Stay up-to-date with all the happening things around Sydney. If you plan on partying in Sydney, this seems like the app to have.
Download the Sydney Party app here: http://road.ie/sydney-party
iShade: This mobile app ties in with the iShade website, providing a new community model for the accounting profession. iShade is a business networking web portal developed exclusively for the accounting industry where you can build and manage your online identity as a CPA or Chartered Accountant. If you are an accountant, this specialized app and community is just for you. I think this is a great example of the range of diversity from which mobile apps can be utilized.
Download the iShade app here: http://road.ie/ishade
GirlGamer: Well, the title says it all. Girl gamers rejoice! This site (and app) are all for you. The site features news, reviews, profiles, forums, blogs for female gamers, and the app allows users to keep in touch with the blog and the latest videos, editorial, live casts, and giveaways. I have a few female friends who will probably be interested in this one!
Download the GirlGamer app here: http://road.ie/girlgamer
ADA: As a newly-diagnosed diabetic myself, this app was of particular interest to me. However, it’s not about information for the general public, but rather it’s going to feature information from and about the American Diabetes Association 70th Scientific Sessions taking place June 25 – 29, 2010, in sunny Orlando, Florida, at the Orange County Convention Center (West Building). Bottom line here is that if you are a diabetic professional involved in research or care, this app is for you. This is another one that falls under the category of an event app, yet the target user is much different than we’ve seen in general for other event apps. I think this shows the continued expansion of app adoption in the fields of professionals.
You can download the ADA app here: http://road.ie/ada
Media Temple iPad Contest Promotes New Community App
posted by Michael Arcand
Do you know Media Temple? Maybe you’ve seen this – (mt) – on one or two wristbands at any of the 20-30 events they host a year. Or maybe you own one of the 600,000 domains they manage, making them one of the top 25 hosting companies in U.S. and top 50 in the world. Whatever the case, (mt) has quite the client roster and fan base.
The (mt) Community app went live recently and to promote it they’re holding a contest (ends tomorrow!) to win a year of hosting or an iPad or iPhone 3GS. Here’s how to enter (full details on their blog):
1. Download the (mt) Community app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Go to the “Feedback” area in the app (via the ‘more’ tab).
3. Leave a comment letting them know what you think of the app . You’ll need to login via your Twitter or Facebook account.
We love the creative approach they’re taking to promote their app and get their audience engaged straight away. We caught up with Ryan Goodman (@ryangoodman), brand manager at (mt), to learn more.
(mt) has a history of being a first mover with technology, especially mobile. They were the first hosting company to build a dedicated web app tailored to the iPhone upon first release and they’re one of the first to have a native app to communicate with customers and that offers capabilities to manage their hosting accounts, get support and buy domain names through the (mt) AccountCenter.
When we asked him why they decided to build a native iPhone app Ryan told us they saw it as a useful way to get customers engaged in a different channel and have a presence in app store.
“We’re a very open company in terms of communication which is why we decided to initially focus the app on our community to give them a way to keep up with everything we’re doing in one place.”
I don’t know if you know any (mt) customers but they tend to be a rowdy and fun bunch. Ryan said that their customers range across verticals and in size but they’ve always paid close attention to the creative community since day one.
“We get a lot of support from the creatives (designers, artists, developers, media, music.) There are a lot of designers who were fans of our company and service when they were young (company was founded in 1998) and have since become creative directors and decision makers. We’ve also seen the developer crowd increase a lot.”
The app has only been out about a week and already it’s had well over 1,000 downloads. And people are using it too.
“Initially we weren’t sure how people would use the fan wall but it’s been really cool. We’re seeing people post questions and users answering and helping one another.”
Want to see it for yourself? Get it!
You can find them on Twitter: @mediatemple and the ole Facebook.
Ryan also mentioned they have a staff of people available 24/7 that is dedicated to responding to every Twitter mention…must be in part why they get so much praise for their customer service…
Announcing the Toby Keith App
posted by Michael Arcand
Mobile Roadie is proud to welcome Toby Keith to the family of Mobile Roadie apps. This is Toby Keith’s official iPhone app, and it’s just in time for his Ford Trucks sponsored American Ride Tour, which kicks off June 19th.
Toby Keith has been among the top musical performers in any genre throughout this decade, and is ranked among the top selling artists in all-genres at #3 on Billboard’s Top 200 Artists of the Decade. He was also named Billboard’s #1 Country Artist of the Decade and #1 Country Songwriter of the Decade, and was honored by Nashville Songwriters Assn. International (NSAI), which awarded him its prestigious Songwriter/Artist of the Decade Award.
He is also a three-time BMI Country Artist/Songwriter of the Year with his catalog generating more than 65 million performances. Keith’s business empire is as expansive as his hit making ability, encompassing restaurants, movies, a dclothing line and his own record label. In this decade alone, his singles have spent more than a year at No. 1 on the charts.
As for Mobile Roadie, we’re totally excited to add Toby Keith to our lineup.
“The country music fan audience is unlike any other we’ve seen. They tend to have a higher level of engagement between artist and fan and consume a lot of content. We’re excited to add Toby Keith to our line-up of A-list artists using app technology to further engage with their audience.” – Michael Schneider, Mobile Roadie, CEO
Through the application, fans will be able to listen to tracks, view show schedules and purchase tickets, access the official store and engage with other fans who’ve downloaded the app via the Fan Wall. It also features news, music, photos, videos, & more! Keep up with the Big Dog Daddy and get all of the latest updates from Toby Keith directly on your iPhone.
You can download the Toby Keith iPhone app free at http://road.ie/toby-keith
