Our 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.

We’ve been working hard to get things ready, and the day has finally arrived! Mobile Roadie 3.0 is ready to roll out, and we’ve got some big surprises that will give our customers unparalleled creative control of their apps. So, hold on to your seats and let’s walk through the changes in this upgrade.

First, we’ve expanded our product offering from one CMS package to three. Now our customers will be able to choose their level of customization from Mobile Roadie CORE, PLUS, and PRO. We’ll talk about these in a minute, but first, let’s take a look at the system-wide features being rolled out with the free 3.0 upgrade:

*The Fan Wall has been updated with more location-based features.
*All apps are being upgraded to have Push Notifications.
*The Favorites feature is being added so app users can bookmark their favorite app content.
*A new Top Users section has been added to give a ‘gaming’ incentive for interaction within the app.
*iOS 4 support has been added for multitasking, background audio, and retina-display graphics, and more.
*iPod integration allows users to access music they already own from their audio library, providing a better quality experience.
*RSVPs for shows and events are now synced to the user’s calendar.
*International language support now includes Dutch, Russian, Turkish, Chinese (Simplified), and Korean.

Now for the main event! We’re proud to announce our new Pro service today. It’s been just over a year since Mobile Roadie launched, providing you with a content management system to produce customizable apps, first on the iPhone and then the Android platform. Now, we’re taking things to the next level.

Mobile Roadie Pro gives users the ability to fully customize the menu layout, colors, buttons, and fonts. The new CMS also supports multiple content categories, global search, and new landscape views. The apps pictured above are three examples that have been built on the Mobile Roadie Pro platform, taking advantage of the latest features.

The FADER is offering exclusive content to users who download their app. What users get, however, is a customized experience that utilizes our Pro features to meet FADER’s strict design requirements. You can download the FADER app at http://road.ie/the-fader.

The second example is the Ninja Tune app. Ninja Tune uses the new Pro CMS to feature profiles on all 90 of their musical artists, both new and old. In addition, users can see photos, stream video, buy tracks and concert tickets – all within the app. You can download the Ninja Tune app at http://road.ie/ninja-tune.

The last example of an app built using the new Pro service is the Wynn Las Vegas app. Users can make reservations, check out the restaurant menu, and even reserve a table for two. But why stop there? The app also features information about the nightlife, shopping, and entertainment in and around the hotel. The Wynn Las Vegas app can be downloaded at http://road.ie/wynn.

Our CEO, Michael Schneider, puts Pro into the perspective of our customers:

“In 2009 we launched the first self-service platform to create mobile apps, and today we are taking that a step further with deeper customization and content options.  With Pro, brands have complete control and can include as much content as they wish, all within the same easy-to-use interface that they’ve come to expect from Mobile Roadie.”

Last but certainly not least, we’re excited to launch our Partners Page, where you can check out all of our partners, whose products enhance your Mobile Roadie App. Our latest partners include Daily Motion for video and SoundCloud for audio. You can visit the partners page at http://mobileroadie.com/home/partners.

So what are you waiting for?

During his current European tour, Mobile Roadie CEO Michael Schneider had the opportunity to give an interview to FrenchWeb.fr, a French website whose stated mission is to present the various initiatives of French “players” anywhere and everywhere. It includes a community of more than 7100 professionals, entrepreneurs, experts, investors, all connected on their LinkedIn group.

During the interview, Michael explains the Mobile Roadie business model, our relationship with Apple, and the international development plan, which is already in full swing. Items on the menu to complete this year include CMS support for BlackBerry, Nokia and iPad.

Speculating as far as next year, Michael mentions Microsoft, Samsung and the mobile web as areas of opportunity for Mobile Roadie. With representatives around the globe and by keeping the production in California, the goal is to be close to Apple and Google in order to stay on top of the industry, provide the best quality product possible, as well as provide local support for customers.

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!

Mobile Roadie CEO, Michael Schneider, will be traveling to the U.K. next week and already has a packed schedule. One event we’re especially looking forward to is an evening focused on digital technology companies changing the future of music. The fun is taking place at Dean Street Studios and is presented by Underdogs Management.

It all goes down on Tuesday, June 29th, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at 59 Dean Street, Soho, W1D 6AN.  Other guests who will be leading the discussion include David Haynes, the UK representative from SoundCloud, as well as Wil Padley, founder of BandCentral, and Shamal Ranasinghe, co-founder of Topspin Media.

During this event you will get a chance to preview the products and hear specifically why these companies are influencing the future of digital music media.

Oh, and did we mention there will be cocktails?

If you’d like to attend, please RSVP jazz@deanst.com or faye@underdogsonline.com.

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.

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

With so many new Mobile Roadie apps from around the world going live every day it can be hard to keep track but once in awhile we see stand-outs that have extensive adoption very quickly.

Lena Meyer-Landrut’s app is the perfect example.  If you haven’t heard of Lena, and if you’re in the U.S. odds are high you haven’t, she’s the most recent winner of the 55th annual Eurovision Song Contest 2010 (think American Idol) that involved representatives from 39 countries vying for the top spot.  She represented her home country, Germany, and snagged the title, a huge honor, as it’s the country’s first win in 28 years and only its second since the contest’s inception.

Lena released her first album this past May, which debuted at number one in German album charts. She also set an all-time chart record with three songs appearing simultaneously in the top five of the German singles chart.  Her Eurovision winning song, Satellite, debuted at number one in Germany and has been certified triple gold since. Not bad for a musician with no formal voice training!

Her popularity on the charts is clearly reflected in the adoption of her app.  In under two weeks it’s already been downloaded over 67,000 times.

Currently the app is only available in Deutschland. If you’re a local there check it out for yourself.  Get the app at: http://road.ie/lena

We’re looking for an entrepreneurial soul to be our eyes and ears on the ground in the U.K.  Our co-founder and CEO Michael Schneider will be visiting the U.K. in a few weeks and would like to set up interviews with qualified applicants beforehand.

Main duties of this position  include the following:

- Local sales and support for Mobile Roadie clients

- Business development

- Partner relationships

There’s no need to worry about coding or working on the app process. All product will still be done in California. So if you have a drive for success, love a challenge and would like to work with a fast-paced mobile tech company, here’s your chance.  Send your resume and cover letter to — hello (at) mobileroadie.com — and put “UK Position” in the subject line.

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