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Mobile Roadie Teams Up With Arizona Department of Health Services To Build Award-Winning Medical Information App

The Arizona Infectious Disease Resource app wins top honors from Arizona Public Health Association

PALO ALTO, Calif., October 14, 2016 – Industry-leading mobile app builder Mobile Roadie congratulates its client, Arizona Department of Health Services, on winning top honors from the Arizona Public Health Association for their AZ Infectious Disease Resource (IDAZ) mobile app.

Created in partnership with Mobile Roadie, the medical information app took first place in the 2016 Health Education Media Maker Yearly Award (HEMMY) Awards category for health education or patient education material produced in the state of Arizona.

The ADHS IDAZ app provides both health care providers and patients in Arizona with information about infectious diseases including public health recommendations, real-time outbreak alerts and other health announcements in the state. Through this app, providers can reference the app for timely health notifications that directly impact their practice and patient population.

“The IDAZ app will provide significant value to the Arizona community by offering accurate medical information and resources in a convenient way,” said Mobile Roadie CEO Gino Padua. “The innovative approach of ADHS sets a great example for other state leaders across the country who are considering how to leverage the power of mobile to engage with their citizens on a wide range of issues.”

The app offers a wide range of information including:

  • A comprehensive list of infectious diseases and corresponding symptoms
  • Disease testing recommendations
  • Continuing Medical Education opportunities around the state
  • Arizona-specific reporting guidelines and state lab submission requirements
  • A map that allows providers to locate public clinics and health departments and call them with one tap

All of these features are easily accessible through the app’s dashboard, which features a news panel highlighting recent public health events and an intuitive menu of options.

Throughout development, the Mobile Roadie Client Services team worked closely with ADHS to envision and build an app that would fit their specific needs. Building the app presented unique challenges, including uploading and organizing four times the amount of content needed for a standard app. Mobile Roadie also handled all app store negotiations as part of its free submission service.

ADHS officially launched the IDAZ mobile app in summer 2016 during the annual Arizona Infectious Disease Training and Exercise, where it achieved over 200 downloads in a three-day period.

Mobile Roadie and ADHS are currently building an additional application that will provide medical reference information to nurses working in the state of Arizona.

About Mobile Roadie

Mobile Roadie, an app creation and mobile marketing platform, helps users seamlessly build and maintain a customized app designed to suit their needs. The company was launched in 2009 and pioneered the concept of simple and easy app building. In 2015, Mobile Roadie was acquired by Intellectsoft which bolstered the platform’s global infrastructure, product innovation, and client support services. Today the platform powers a range of clients from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the San Diego Gulls, Universal Pictures and the San Diego Zoo to Tupperware, Arizona Department of Health Services, the Aspen Ideas Festival, Harvard University, Wynn Las Vegas and Hollywood Casino. To date, Mobile Roadie has been used to create more than 500 apps that have been downloaded by over 50 million users. To learn more, visit www.mobileroadie.com.

Follow Mobile Roadie on Social Media:
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Media Contact:
Sarah Hardy
Director of Communications, Mobile Roadie
sarah.hardy@intellectsoft.net
913.461.1155

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The Iowa Wild Bring the Action to Their Fans With an App, Just in Time for Opening Night

The Iowa Wild prepared for the 2016-17 season by more than just practicing. The team also busied itself updating their mobile app so that fans will have all-access to the latest news when the Iowa Wild take on the Manitoba Moose in their home opener tonight.

Powered by Mobile Roadie, the Iowa Wild app is a one-stop shop for fans to buy tickets, check game schedules, discuss players, pick up Wildwear, and get up-to-the-minute news.

Photo Oct 14, 8 53 29 AM

Here at Mobile Roadie, we’re proud of the Iowa Wild app and what it brings hockey fans. Some of our favorite features include:

  • Game Track: Get second-by-second coverage and scores delivered by push notifications when you can’t be at the game or in front of a TV
  • Watch Live: Stream live video and audio of the games even while you’re on the move
  • Fan Communities: Want to talk about a hat trick or trade that happened? Open a discussion topic with other Iowa Wild fans!
  • Fan Central: Navigate to the Iowa Wild Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube account with a single touch
  • Photocards: Nothing to do during intermission? Take a picture in one of the official Iowa Wild picture frames until the action begins again!
  • Merchandise Store: Rep your team by ordering gear from the Wildwear store

Photo Oct 14, 8 53 54 AMPhoto Oct 14, 8 54 50 AM

So download the app and stay up-to-date all season long. Best of luck to the Iowa Wild – let’s start the season off with a win!

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Is There Room for Apps in Church? We Joined Christianity Today to Talk Tech and Religion

mobile apps religion app development mobile roadie christianity today
Image processed by CodeCarvings Piczard ### FREE Community Edition ### on 2016-09-29 15:51:30Z | http://piczard.com | http://codecarvings.com


We recently had the privilege of speaking with Christianity Today about how churches can embrace mobile apps and further engage their members. Check out the full interview here:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/local-church/2016/september/church-apps.html
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5 Things You Absolutely Need to Build a Mobile App

If you’re here, you’ve probably already gone through the 6 questions you need to ask before getting a mobile app and decided to join the mobile revolution. It’s an enormous task for both technical and non-technical people alike but don’t worry, you’re on the right track and your business will “app”reciate you for it later.

It’s time to think about exactly what is going into your mobile app. This is perhaps the most important part of the app building process as by the end of it, you’ll be connecting with your users for the first time via mobile. Here’s what you HAVE to have down before you start developing.

1. PURPOSE

This is the easiest and hardest item on the list. Easy because it should already reflect everything your business or brand has already done to get here. The devil, however, is in the details and that means that the purpose of your app should somewhat be different from what your website is already doing. Ask yourself:

  1. What problem does your app solve and how are you solving it differently?
  2. If your app doesn’t solve a problem (think games or Spotify), what value does it add to your user’s life whether as a service or entertainment?
  3. What conveniences do you want to offer with your app that can’t be addressed on a PC?
  4. What in your strategy and delivery sets you apart from everyone with this app?

The success of the rest of the items on your list are contingent upon your app’s purpose so this is usually the longest step to get right and often needs to be revisited throughout the process. Aim to make your app describable in a 1-2 sentence snippet. After all, you can use the description when you submit it to the App or Play store later.

2. CONTENT

Websites are great at delivering a lot of content. Apps are better at delivering accessible, need-to-know-now content. That means that the amount of information that you put in an app should not be overwhelming and certainly should not be a translation of your website. Things like a subscription page or a “meet the team” page can be scrapped for the sake of simplicity and efficiency. Your app should serve as a corner store in your user’s phone so making services and support accessible with “one tap” is crucial.

There’s a positive correlation with good content and amount of “time spent in app”. Since content is king, it’s important to make sure of the following things:

  • Make your content relevant. That means putting scores up on the homepage of your sports app or making an interactive venue map accessible in “two taps” if you’re a conference organizer.
  • Put pertinent information at the top. Readers have a shorter attention span when they’re in need of critical information. This is doubly true when you they’re on-the-go reading from their smartphones. Make sure you answer or provide relevant information within the first paragraph or two of each page.
  • Short and concise. When your screen is 5 inches tall and 2 inches wide, it’s difficult to read blocks of texts. Tighten your writing and deliver short, powerful messages in 2-3 sentences at a time.
  • Images > text. Studies show that mobile users stare longer at images and videos than text itself. This doesn’t mean you can’t have written content but you should be using visuals either as a background for your text, a break from it, or a way to explain to the user what they’re reading.

3. DESIGN

Your app should an extension of your brand. Everything your design team implements, from your logo to the placement of each feature,  should account for user experience. Here are some design tips that Mobile Roadie uses to ensure the best UX experience possible:

  • Understand the capabilities and limitations of the hand. We optimize tab navigation so that it’s one-hand and thumb-friendly.
  • Use the “3 tap rule”. Some complex apps have a lot of content but Mobile Roadie adheres to the belief that every piece of content should be accessible in 3 taps. From the home screen, we ensure that each section has a maximum of 3 tiers of categories so that users can intuitively navigate through the app.
  • Utilize obvious call-to-actions. All of our apps use an attractive navigation bar at the bottom of the screen that’s thumb-friendly and directs users to the features of an app like an activity feed, interactive map, search bar, or support page. It ensures that your users are getting the most out of the app by calling their attention to navigation buttons.
  • Map out everything manually. Create wireframes, layout user stories, and chart experience maps to understand the motivations and feelings of users when they see a screen or interact with a certain feature.

4. TARGET AUDIENCE

Knowing off the bat who your users are (age, gender, location, demographics) will allow you to design and create content appropriately. If you own a single-purpose app (think of when Facebook made Messenger a stand-alone app), your audience might be those who need to access it quickly and often so cluttering it with excessive content or a complex design won’t work.

You can get a better grasp of your audience by creating personas (imaginary characters made up by the expected interactions with your app) and user scenarios (imaginary situations and what people would do step-by-step to solve them).

Sometimes, you might have two different audiences. Take for example, an app created for a school and meant to be used by both students and parents. The former might need a map of the school, schedule of classes, and sports schedule while the latter might need access to report cards, school forms, and parent-teacher conferences. In that case, Mobile Roadie ensures that both parents and students receive group-specific information and have access to shared news by creating accounts for every user. This way when each user logs in, the app will populate content specific to the student or parent.

5. MVP

No, we’re not talking about the most valuable player although you’re pretty awesome. The minimum viable product is the absolute bare bones release of your app limited to only its basic features. It is one of the most valuable (see what I did there?) tools to receive the initial round of reviews and comments so you know what direction to improve in before continuing with development. Mobile Roadie actually developed an app that allows you to preview what your app looks like in real time and experience the features for yourself. Called Mobile Roadie Connect, our version of an MVP “app previewer” also helps you figure out:

  1. How easy is it to use your app?
  2. What fixes do you need to make to bugs found in the MVP?
  3. Does your app still align with business and customer values?
  4. Is your app ready for the app store?

The best way to ensure that your app will continue to get downloads once in an app store is to revisit your purpose. After you’ve reached the end of this article, go back and make sure that your content, features, design, and product all fit with the problems you want to fix or the services you want to provide in people’s lives.

If you’re ready to build an app or have a question about anything you’ve read above, Mobile Roadie has a budget-friendly, low-code app approach that could power your new mobile app. Our new Client Services division is dedicated to helping prospective clients get their app off the ground and into the app stores so contact us when you’re ready!

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Does Your Business Really Benefit From Mobile Presence? 6 Questions to Ask Before You Get a Mobile App

mobile app, development, business, mobile roadie, customer support,

Read this already? Click here to continue on to learn what 5 things you need to start building your app!

Websites, storefronts, and phone lines have one thing in common: they are no longer enough to keep up with your customers’ needs. So, what do you need to make your business stand out and succeed?

You’ve probably felt the push for businesses and brands in 2016 to develop a mobile presence. After all, with the average person spending nearly three hours on their phones a day, getting some mobile screen time has proven to be a profitable and powerful investment. As a result, 42% of companies have increased their spending on mobile development. What questions should you be asking yourself before taking the leap to build a mobile app?

Do your customers need your product/service to be available anytime, anywhere?

As phone technology becomes more powerful, the advantages of personal computers over mobile devices are rapidly disappearing. Google puts a map of the entire world in your pocket, while Uber gets you almost anywhere in the world. But even if you’re not a mobile-first business, you can benefit from placing your business into the hands of your users in the same way. The ability to access the apps we want and services we need any time of the day has quickly grown into an expectation. A mobile app allows you to be there for your customers when they need you.

Do your competitors have a mobile app?

Yes? Then they may be onto something you’re not. Don’t worry though. Just as every business has its niches, your app can have features that deliver a distinct interface and user experience to your customers and give you plenty of opportunities to make your business stand out.

No? Then you already have a head start just by running through these questions. This is your chance to distinguish yourself in a climate where customers are spoiled by choice. You can be sure that customers are going to take notice of the ease of access and in-depth support you’re providing them with. A mobile app is a surefire way to give you an edge over your competitors.

Is it expensive to build a mobile app?

Running a business keeps you busy and learning to code or hiring coders to develop your app can be time-consuming, frustrating, and expensive. Luckily, the surge in mobile app development has pushed companies like Mobile Roadie to create an “app building platform for everyone.” What does that mean? Mobile Roadie has developed a system that requires little coding but packs a punch with a plethora of features like push notifications, geofencing, community boards, photo galleries, and e-commerce interfaces. You can get a high quality app at a fraction of the price which companies were paying when mobile apps first broke onto the scene.

Do you need to reach a wider audience and generate more customer loyalty?

When you have your own mobile app, you appeal to more users. Of course, your users will mainly consist of those who are constantly on the move and require portable access but you also open the door to a new user segment, those more comfortable using their PCs. Problems arise at different intersections of life (often away from a computer) so having a mobile app better anticipates your customers needs. Being able to connect to reliable customer support with the tap of a mobile app is something your customers will thank you for.

How will push notifications help deliver your product/service?

Okay, so your brand isn’t trying to “sell” anything. The good news is the potential of a mobile app extends far beyond e-commerce. Push notifications, or messages that you can send to all of your users that deliver pertinent information and bypass their lock screen, has over a 50% open rate when compared to emails. These messages can be anything from a timed contest announcement, nudging users to reach the optimal amount of daily exercise, displaying emergency information, or just to letting your customers know when their driver has arrived. These notifications provide engagement with your users and let them know that you’re thinking about their convenience even when they forget.

Could your business and employees benefit from automating daily processes?

Mobile enterprise apps can address your side of the business too. Employee productivity has been proven to improve by 30% when previously complex/tedious functions are automated with an app. This frees up time for your business to focus on other tasks which ultimately means your team will have more time for your customers. Companies have reported an:

  • Increase in sales/revenue
  • Improvement in customer service
  • Better access to internal databases
  • Reduction of other operational expenses (paperwork, manpower)

More and more businesses are recognizing that having an accessible port of call for new and existing customers means creating a mobile app. There are 258 million people with smartphones in the U.S. alone and having your business only a few finger taps away could make a world of difference for your product.

If you asked yourself if you need an app and the answer is yes, it’s time to begin thinking about what goes in the app. Read the next article in our “How-To” series and make sure you have these 5 things to start building your app.

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High Tech, Low Code: How Businesses Are Tapping Into The Power Of Mobile Apps

Join us as Mobile Roadie and Forrester team up to deliver insights on the “mobile app builder for everyone” platform at 11 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Aug. 23

WHO: Mobile Roadie CEO Gino Padua & Forrester Vice President/Principal Analyst Jeffrey Hammond

WHAT: FREE Webinar – High Tech, Low Code: How Businesses Are Tapping Into The Power Of Mobile Apps

WHEN: 11 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET, Tuesday, Aug. 23

WHERE: Register here!

If you own a business in 2016, having a website, storefront, and phone line just doesn’t cut it anymore. The idea of having your services be available “anytime, anywhere” is the driving principle of mobile engagement as users crave access 24/7.

There’s a demand on all sides of a business, from customers, partners, and employees, to have an app that increases your brand’s visibility and allows them to reach your services when they need it the most. Considering that the average American spends at least two hours on his/her phone every day and 89% of that time is in an app, those are missed opportunities for any small business or enterprises without one. Okay, we convinced you, right? How, then, do you build a mobile app? How long until it’s up and running and is building a mobile app expensive?

Well, you don’t have to rush to hire expensive developers or even sign yourself up for a coding class. Or pay an arm and a leg to get some screen time on your customers’ smartphones. Lean-code, high-tech platforms are making it easier and cheaper to develop a high-quality app with all the right features for your business.

In a free webinar at 11 a.m. PT (2 p.m. ET) on Tuesday, Aug. 23, Mobile Roadie and Forrester will examine how mobile apps open up a completely new portal allowing brands to more fully interact with their customers, partners, and employees. Any business, no matter how big or small, and no matter the area of specialty, can use an app effectively. For example:

 The Dallas Mavericks use their Mobile Roadie app to:

  • Encourage fan participation by incentivizing users to comment and post photos to accumulate points that show who the most diehard Mavs fans are.
  • Curate a newsfeed that doubles as a way to live stream Mavs games during the season.
  • Sell merchandise and tickets through the app dashboard and provide live traffic updates around the American Airlines Center.

CrossPointe Church uses their app to unite their community by:

  • Offering notes that explore a particular sermon and allowing users to search Biblical parables.
  • Providing video and audio of sermons to community members that couldn’t make it to Mass that day.
  • Keeping the entire community in the loop with a calendar and Twitter feed of what’s going on at CrossPointe.

These two brands show the versatility of an app platform with a low-barrier-to-entry, catered specifically to each respective business. Whether you’re an enterprise, small to medium business, or even a leader in a community, the people who love your brand will fall in love with your app. Tune in and let’s get you started on building your own app.

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KCRW Mobile App Connects You to Local SoCal Deals With so You Can Cruise to Savings

mobile roadie app development travel retail app kcrw

KCRW, a Santa Monica-based radio station, not only dominates the airwaves in SoCal but provides the entire region with local deals and offers through its Fringe Benefits app. The station taps into a sea of opportunities available when you cater a mobile app to a hyperlocal community.

You can hear KCRW, the radio giant with humble post wartime beginnings, as you cruise down the SoCal coast but did you know the station could also get you the best discounts in the area? That’s because aside from airing the leading cultural/music programs in California and being a member of NPR, it promotes the biggest network of local business partnerships in Santa Monica, L.A., Orange County, and San Diego.

The KCRW Fringe Benefits app, built by Mobile Roadie, provides over 550,000 weekly listeners and anyone who owns a smartphone (yes, beach hermits have iPhones) with deals and discounts from over 1,000 local businesses. From yoga to comedy, restaurants to spas, and concerts to museums, you can find hundreds of daily offers often with a steep 15-30% discount off goods and services. The app also gives you a chance to find venues where KCRW will host performing artists and connect with other “friends with Fringe Benefits.”

A Golden (Coast of) Opportunity

While tapping into hyperlocal local businesses and communities isn’t a novel marketing tactic by any means, using a mobile app that reaches half a million dedicated listeners provides a golden opportunity. KCRW takes full advantages of not only partnerships with local businesses but also sponsorships to promote them on air. The reason? It drives more vendors and user traffic towards the Fringe Benefits app.

The app allows you to browse a vast directory of services all at the touch of your fingers. Don’t know what do or eat? Switch on your phone’s GPS and the app will show you a list of participants within a 1, 2, and 5-mile radius. As of this month, the Fringe Benefits app boasts close to 18,800 iOS downloads.

Making Waves in the Mobile App x Radio Industry

What KCRW has done already opens up possibilities for other radio stations to select a target audience or dedicated fan base and incentivize them with local deals. While many might think that KCRW took a risk by opting for a standalone travel/retail app, in reality all the radio station did was use its branding to unite businesses and customers under a user-friendly interface powered by Mobile Roadie.

That’s not all the future has in store for mobile apps and radio stations though. Beacon technology can make it possible for the station’s app to recognize a partner’s restaurant and send a push notification about drink specials when the user walks by. Geofencing can make it possible for the radio station to beam a notification to concert attendees and let them know that a golden ticket is hidden in a particular row (and that finding it means getting a chance meet the performer backstage). During tax season, a radio station can promote tax filing tips via push notifications on the app, reminding users that its sponsor and local accounting firm is available to help. The station can rull polls on the app asking which song listeners would like to hear next. The possibilities are endless!

Are you a radio station or business that could use a mobile app to find partnerships and create opportunities like KCRW did? How do you think an app could help you connect with fans? Let us know in the comments below!

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Gotta Caché Them All: Pokémon GO Proves That You Don’t Need a New Idea; Just Synergy and Timing

Pokémon GO takes over everywhere

Pokémon GO shows that synergy between branding, social trends, and game experimentation matters more in 2016 than ever before.

Just What is Pokemon GO?

Many of you have heard of Pokémon GO by this point and are probably trying to crack how to evolve your Pokémon or beat your local Pokémon gym as we speak. But in case you missed out on the hype here’s a quick primer (also which rock were you living under and did you check it for Poliwags?)

Pokémon GO is an augmented reality (AR) game developed by Nintendo and Niantic. It reinvents geocaching by making you go out into the real world to catch the original cast of 145 Pokémon (you can’t catch the three legendary birds, Mewtwo, Mew, or Ditto.) The game uses your phone’s GPS locator and camera lens to deftly integrate Pokémon animations onto your phone screen. Your phone will regularly alert you, as you travel in the real world, whenever an opportunity to toss a Pokéball at a sought-after Pokémon presents itself. As you level up, you’ll be able to conquer gyms, hatch Pokémon eggs, and evolve your beloved pocket monsters. Players also have the option to accelerate their progress by purchasing in-game items and services from Niantic but Pokemon GO is primarily free-to-play.

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Geocaching, AR, RPGs, CCGs — none of these elements alone are revelatory and all have been around for over a decade. Together, though, they are revolutionizing mobile gaming and are altering the way we interact with the physical environment.

This isn’t hyperbole either. Barely a week has passed since Pokémon GO’s limited release and the game is already well on its way to claim a spot as one of the Elite Four mobile games in mobile application history. And that in a year full of grim projections for the mobile gaming market. Since July 5th, Nintendo’s market value has increased by 25% and here’s how the game ranks already:

 

Know Your Brand and Tap into Social Trends

So, how does a brand that’s been around since 1995 combine augmented reality (the first instance of an AR video game debuted for Androids in 2008) and geocaching (2000) absolutely crush mobile app records in 2016? The key is “timing.”

Nintendo is a gaming powerhouse and certainly no stranger to game iterations (with a whoppin’ 24 gaming adaptations of the original Red, Blue, and Green versions.) In fact, they’re so good at branding, that Pokémon holds the title of the second highest-selling game franchise in history (Mario still clings to the top spot) and they’ve been able to generate frenzied interest for every Pokémon game release over the last 20 years.

Why launch yet another Pokémon game now?

It’s about analyzing social trends and realizing that now, more than ever, people are likely to view both hype and nostalgia with equal excitement. Let’s take a peek into the mind of Nintendo:

From this, it makes sense why Nintendo would launch Pokémon GO now and as its first mobile game ever. The game is filled with enough nuances for the 10-year-old, who just wants to play with his friends, as it is for a 25-year-old, who hunted for Pokémon in the wee hours of the night by the glow of his hand-held Gameboy. Nintendo synergized a formula equally potent in FOMO hype as it was in heartfelt nostalgia and everyone has fallen in love with the game, whether it be again or at first sight.

But Don’t Be Scared to Experiment!

People use mobile apps on the move but how do you get someone up and moving to use an app?

Player 2 has just joined the game: Niantec, a software development company known for their work on Google Maps, is responsible for developing the world’s biggest AR/geocaching success story prior to Pokémon GO.

Before Pokémon GO, Niantic found that success with Ingress, another AR-enhanced location-based mobile game that focuses on two factions claiming respective territories. There is considerable overlap between the games, including Pokéstops (called portals in Ingress) at prominent landmarks, so it’s safe to conclude that Niantic was simply leveraging existing game mechanics while raising the incentive with the irresistible appeal of Pokémon.

Again, neither AR or geocaching are new elements but individually they just hadn’t caught on with current audiences until now. The winning formula is in introducing emerging technology (AR) to a wide audience in a friendly manner (Pokémon) and tie it to a wholesome, IRL form of social activity (geocaching). Simple, right? More like researched. Pokémon GO proves that you don’t need a revolutionary idea, just a synergetic formula that’s been tested through experimentation and executed with perfect, social timing.

Cachin’ In

Nintendo and Niantic have already created a game as addictive as it is historic and many would do well to study their method. Aside from its marketing success and continuing growth potential (yes, there are still features such as trading and the other 577 Pokémon that Nintendo hasn’t released that are likely to drive demand to new and more frenzied levels), Pokémon GO has had a tremendous effect on how we view the social terrain, both physical and augmented.

pokemon go mobile gaming app mobile roadie develpment
Pokémon trainers are from all paths of life

Pokémon has always been innately communal, from trading cards to trading in-game, and that persists through this game as players meet up to train together and live out their childhood dreams. Now this communal aspect has spilled into the “real world”. Public spaces previously left deserted are now filled with kids and adults walking around while playing the game. Although it’s too early to say, we have already seen hints Pokemon GO redefining urban planning; views of what constitutes a place as shared, safe, and fun are already being augmented.

Last year, the question of mobile app performance left the industry uncertain of its future. Today, Pokemon GO’s virality reinvigorated interest in the mobile market and did so by formulating a product in light of current social trends and emerging technologies.

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I Got an App in Ibiza: Pacha Goes Mobile

pacha group nightclub mobile roadie mobile app

 

I Got an App in Ibiza: Pacha Goes Mobile

About 90 miles off of Spain’s Eastern coast, in the Mediterranean Sea, lies a beautiful up-cropping of land about ten times the size of Manhattan. The island is Ibiza, and to most of the world, its name is synonymous with partying. Though the total population of the island is only around 140,000, it draws nearly 14 million visitors a year.

Revelers who come to Ibiza are nearly unanimously wowed by their experience. The summer party season, which runs from May to September, draws the biggest DJs and clubbers from around the world. For those who run in certain social circles, partying in Ibiza is a lifestyle statement.

But everyone who participates in the Ibiza party experience agrees: there is something uniquely beautiful about the connection, sense of community, and openness that graces the island. Ibiza brings together people from around the globe just looking to cut loose and have fun.  

 

Club Pacha

Naturally, the island is host to a number of legendary clubs, each with its own niche. Perhaps none is more legendary than Pacha, a place where patrons can experience a “summer of love” vibe with an updated soundtrack. The club’s resident DJs include David Guetta and Martin Solveig, and Diplo and Mark Ronson will be among the guest performers this summer.

In addition to a nightclub, Pacha has two hotels and shops on the Island, making it possible for vacationers to experience their entire trip through the group. As Pacha’s website attests, those who party at Pacha love to document and share their experience. After all, for most visitors, their trip to Ibiza is a rare thing.

With this in mind, Pacha was faced with a dilemma: how could it bring together patrons whose club experience may only be as short as a night?

 

From Ibiza to iTunes

By designing a mobile app, Pacha effectively solves this dilemma by bringing its presence out of Ibiza Town and into our pockets. Fans of the venue can stay connected to it even once they get back to their cubicles and living rooms. After all, the Pacha experience is supposed to be more than a night of partying.

By connecting these bon vivants through a mobile app, Pacha allows itself the opportunity to grow beyond just a nightclub. Instead, they create an interactive community. Mobile users can connect, share their experiences, and submit photos and videos. In strengthening these bonds, Pacha itself builds a more dedicated and active community.

 

Feeling the Beat Beyond the Dancefloor

Pacha’s attractive new mobile app, powered by Mobile Roadie, offers club-patrons (and aspiring patrons) a place to come together. With a fan wall, a magazine, and a chance for users to create personalized profiles, the app is both a way to stay up to date on happenings and socialize with others. Throw in an “Events & Tickets” link, and users needn’t even leave their application if they’re suddenly inspired to buy entry to one of the club’s many events.

Here are a few of the ways the app brings users together while promoting Pacha:

  • The fan wall has a section for comments, a map so that users can see where other fans are posting from, and a photo section for user submissions. On a recent weekday, Pacha diehards from Buenos Aires to Brussels excitedly shared about upcoming trips, guest-lists they would like be on, and DJs they couldn’t wait to see.
  • It encourages interactive participation by having users create a profile and accumulate points to become a Top User by offering top-rated comments, posting photos , and participating in discussion forums. A leaderboard shows how many “points” top users have accumulated. Peer-to-peer messaging allows for the app to function as a social network as well, with club-goers linking up on their phones.
  • User-generated content also gives the app a community-driven feel. Users submit photos (at an increasing rate as the #pachalove promotion draws to a close) of themselves living it up at Pacha. Photocards are a fun chance for mobile users to photoshop themselves into various Pacha themed pictures and post them to the gallery.
  • The newsfeed offers not only updates, promotions, and new line-ups, but also interviews with resident DJs. Subscribers to the newsfeed can receive push notifications and updates. During the summer party season, when new DJs are constantly being added to the events calendar, this feature is particularly useful.
  • Draw competitions and surprise promotions, both available only to the app’s users, gives fans a chance to make it onto exclusive guest-lists or into impromptu parties. Using geotargeting, the app knows when a user is on Ibiza, and will offer him tips for his trip. For those involved in the club scene, entry to these exclusive parties is a huge bonus of downloading the app.

 

What’s Next

Mega-clubs, both in Ibiza and elsewhere, would be wise to follow Pacha’s lead and consider making the leap from party-venue to lifestyle brand. What Pacha has done not only ensures continued interest in its club events, but also increased awareness. Promotions such as the photo submission contests give it a strong presence on other social media platforms as well.

What do you think? Is Pacha leading the way in what’s soon to become a bigger trend? Where else do clubs and other venues have room to grow online? Let us know what you think of Pacha’s app in the comments!

Categories
News

Mobile Roadie Appoints Vova Soroka As New CTO

mobile roadie logo CTO Intellectsoft Vova Soroka

Enterprise Tech Engineer To Join Mobile Roadie Leadership Team And Spearhead Platform Innovations and Improvements

PALO ALTO, Calif., June 16, 2016 – Mobile Roadie, a leading mobile app creation and marketing platform and a division of Intellectsoft, announced today that Vova Soroka has been named Chief Technology Officer, effective immediately.

“Vova brings a wealth of development expertise, a strong management background and a keen sense for engineering user-friendly products to the Mobile Roadie team,” said Mobile Roadie CEO Gino Padua. “His relentless drive for excellence will be critical as we double down on our mission to provide clients with a best-in-class platform and newly-innovated capabilities and features.”

Soroka joins the team from Toluna where he served as Vice President of Product Management and later as VP of Development Operations. There he contributed to the creation of Toluna’s online market research products with a focus on analytics and online communities. Previously, Soroka spent 16 years at blue-chip technology leader IBM. While there, he worked with IBM’s Collaboration Technology team to research emerging innovations in mobile, video, and social networking platforms and capitalize on those trends. Most recently, he led the Global Technology Unit in the IBM Israel office.

“Our goal is to make it easy and accessible for anyone to build a mobile app and engage with their target audience, whether it’s a brand seeking to connect with its consumers or a band looking to share its music with fans,” said Soroka. “In addition to offering a seamless app-building experience, we want to provide app owners with the opportunity to test out new technology innovations that might not be mainstream yet. We are also very excited to roll out a new advanced analytics and user engagement system later this year, which will allow app owners to make strategic engagement decisions based on real-time user data and trends.”

Acquired by software services firm Intellectsoft in 2015, Mobile Roadie has undergone a transformation of late, introducing a newly-redesigned website and announcing Padua as its new CEO.

In the coming months, the Mobile Roadie team will roll out new pricing options and product capabilities including new themes, improved interface, robust designs, improved security, bug fixes, and app code optimizations. These changes will be complemented by a reinvigorated focus on client services and support, along with a soon-to-be-announced new advanced analytics and user engagement system.

About Mobile Roadie

Mobile Roadie, an app creation and mobile marketing platform, helps users seamlessly build and maintain a customized app designed to suit their needs. The company was launched in 2009 and pioneered the concept of simple and easy app building. In 2015, Mobile Roadie was acquired by Intellectsoft which bolstered the platform’s global infrastructure, product innovation, and client support services. Today the platform powers a range of clients from Taylor Swift, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Dallas Mavericks, Universal Pictures and the San Diego Zoo to Tupperware, the Aspen Ideas Festival, Harvard University, Wynn Las Vegas and Hollywood Casino. To date, Mobile Roadie has been used to create more than 500 apps that have been downloaded by over 50 million users. To learn more, visit www.MobileRoadie.com.

Follow Mobile Roadie on Social Media:
Twitter    Facebook    

Media Contact:
Sarah Hardy
Director of Communications, Mobile Roadie
sarah.hardy@intellectsoft.net
913.461.1155

Categories
News

Mobile Roadie Website Relaunch

Hikers looking over the horizon. A relaunch of mobile roadie, new adventure in mobile development

Mobile Roadie clients and friends,

We are thrilled to debut our redesigned website today, featuring an all-new list of customized app development tools engineered for a variety of businesses and verticals in mind, ranging from sports teams and conference organizers, to religious organizations and bands.

As part of our website relaunch, we wanted to share two client success stories with you, featuring the world-famous Pacha nightclub in Ibiza and the immensely popular Broadway show, Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark.

From our first conversation with the Pacha team, we knew our partnership would be something special. As one of the world’s premier nightclub and event brands, this team creates social magic and unforgettable moments for clubgoers. We were thrilled to be a part of it! Pacha finds Mobile Roadie’s geo-fencing capabilities to be the most useful feature of their app. Utilizing their users’ location information they can send targeted notifications about upcoming events, as well as send push notifications to their devoted  fans when Pacha organizes parties abroad (like Pacha’s Festival Amsterdam in fall 2015). The Pacha team also mentioned that Mobile Roadie makes it very easy to update their app on-the-fly, which is a “must” since they never know when the perfect party opportunity will pop up.

Since its launch in January 2012, the Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark app has been downloaded almost 3.2 million times, serving as a testament to just how much this show has captivated Broadway and Spider-Man fans alike. While the app offered users exclusive information, photos, and updates, most importantly it provides the show with an opportunity to bring users the music they love. This in turn drove over $5,600 of music sales from within the app, creating a win-win scenario for both the cast and the fans.

This website redesign is just a small part of many exciting changes we’ll be rolling out in the coming months, including new themes, a wider range of color selections, beautifully updated designs, increased security features and app code optimizations. Keep an eye out for future announcements in the coming weeks and months! Cheers from our team in Los Angeles and happy app-building!

Categories
Blog

App of the Week: Alternative Press Magazine

From humble beginnings to becoming one of the top music magazines in the US, Alternative Press has been covering the underground music scene for close to three decades.

With cover stories on some of the most famous acts like the Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Green Day, it’s no surprise that AP’s viewer base grew over the years, currently reaching close to 1 million viewers a month.

Earlier this year, Alternative Press released their iPad edition to rave reviews – it was heralded as one of the “best-designed digital publications on the Mag+ platform. And now they’re back with their very own mobile app designed for the iPhone and Android.

The official AP mobile app is the perfect place to keep up with all the latest from the magazine. You can browse special events in real-time via LiveStream and Ustream, connect with other AP readers, listen to music, and so much more!

Download the official AP app at http://road.ie/altpress 

Categories
Blog

Red Hot Chili Peppers Give Away Front Row Tickets to App Users

We’re always on the lookout for interesting marketing campaigns that are going on inside our apps, and we think we’ve found a great example of how you can use your app to boost user engagement and increase downloads.

The Campaign

Leave it to the Red Hot Chili Peppers to create a marketing campaign inside their mobile app that is sizzling (and ridiculously simple, yet genius)- they’re upgrading concert tickets to FRONT ROW seats for some lucky fans inside their app. Here’s how the promotion works:

1) Fans who have tickets to a RHCP North America Tour show can enter themselves in the promotion by going inside the Tour section in the app, finding the show they have tickets for, and clicking the “I’m Going” button.

2) One winner is selected at random to receive 2 (!) front row seat upgrades. They are notified two ways – via Direct Message which can be found on their User Profile and via a targeted Push Notification.

To promote this campaign, they posted the details in the blog section of their official website and on their social network sites including Facebook:

The RHCP team also promoted the campaign in their mobile app with push notifications that were sent out to users:

The Results 

Needless to say, the campaign has created happier fans, higher app engagement, and more downloads. By creating promotional campaigns that reward users for activity – even an activity as simple as clicking a button – buzz is generated and the relationship between brand and fan is strengthened.

The RHCP campaign is an excellent example of how you can incorporate multiple features of your mobile app to create a marketing campaign that is simple, yet highly effective.

Categories
Blog

SXSW Conversations on Mobile Engagement Part 1: Evolving Beyond the Web

At SXSW 2012 this past March, we spoke with key tech and music industry leaders to find out their thoughts on the future of mobile tech and audience engagement. To capture these moments, MoRo Creative Director Brock Batten created a 3-part video series that is also meant to spark an ongoing dialog around how fans and artists will interact in the future.

Part 1 of the video series highlights key stats in the mobile industry & features industry leaders including Ariel Hyatt (CEO, Cyber PR), Jeff Nicholas (Creative Director, The Uprising Creative), Matthew Hawn (VP of Product, Last FM), Nicole St. Jean (Senior Producer, Topspin Media), Chris Lea (Engineer/Biz Dev, Media Temple), Seth Jackson (Managing Director, PIAS Media), Bryan Calhoun (VP of New Media, Sound Exchange), Nick Gordon (VP of Client Services, The Orchard), and Rynda Laurel (Digital Manger, The Smashing Pumpkins).

Check out Part 1 below, and let us know your thoughts on the future of mobile and audience engagement in the comment box.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-iSHzZSAwo&feature=plcp
For more videos, visit our YouTube or Vimeo profile.

Categories
Events

Mobile Roadie & Friends Music Tech Meetup at midem 2012

Time for our first Music Tech Meetup of 2012! And what better place to kick off the party than at midem, the “world’s largest music industry trade show” held in Cannes, France. Stop on by for great networking, drinks, and to meet the teams from some of the leading music tech companies as we get together at Au Bureau on Sunday, January 29th at 6:30pm (and onwards).

RSVP for free here.

Sponsors:
Mobile Roadie – The most powerful self-service app platform, powering the official midem app.
SoundCloud – The leading audio platform that makes it easy to transfer music online.
Spotify – A popular music streaming service with millions of users since launch in 2008.
Topspin – A technology-focused direct-to-fan marketing, management, and distribution platform.
Webdoc – A social platform allowing users to create digital scrapbooks from web content that they can share with friends.
MXP4 – A developer of innovative music solutions for artists, fans, brands, labels, and distribution platforms.
Musixmatch – The world’s largest official lyrics database.
Next Big Sound – Music analytics company that tracks “all the behavior and activity happening for artists both online and off”.
The Orchard – A full service marketing and distribution company that specializes in music and video entertainment.
midem– The world’s largest music industry trade show attracting thousands of participants from across the world.

Venue Information:
Au Bureau
49 Rue Felix Faure
06400 Cannes, France

Hope to see you there!

Categories
Blog

2011: Top 10 Facts about the US Smartphone Market

2011 was a dynamic year of growth for mobile. The following 10 facts summarize the highlights of the US smartphone industry in 2011:

1. By the end of November, there were over 234 million Americans (age 13 and older) who used mobile devices.

2. Over 91.4 million people owned smartphones in the US compared to the 63.2 million in 2010, an increase of over 44% (study by comScore).

3. Smartphone penetration in the US was close to 44%, up from 25% in 2010.

4. Over 62% of 25-34 year olds who owned mobile phones owned smartphones in 2011, up from 41% in 2010. Following behind, 54% of 18-24 year olds owned smartphones in 2011 (study by Nielsen).

5. Google Android was the most popular OS claiming 46% market share, followed by Apple iOS with 28%.

6. The Apple iPhone was the most sought-after smartphone device based on the fact that the only phones that are powered by iOS are iPhones. In the third quarter of 2011, the top 3 best-selling phones in the US were the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, and HTC EVO 4G, according to The NPD Group.

7. Close to 7% of all US Web traffic was from smartphones and tablets, with smartphones accounting for about 2/3 of this figure (study by comScore). iOS  devices accounted for around 58% of non-computer online traffic while Android accounted for 32%.

8. In 2011, the most popular activity amongst smartphone users was texting or messaging (70%), followed by emailing (60%),  social networking (50%), talking on the phone (43%), and then surfing the Web (40%) (study by CloudTalk).

9. 38% of mobile subscribers downloaded apps. Among the smartphone users who downloaded apps, 83% had either an Android or iPhone device.

10. In December 2011, an average of 1.5 million smartphones were downloaded each day. On December 25th, however, it was estimated that more than 6.8 million iOS & Android devices were activated (study from Flurry).

The smartphone industry flourished in 2011, and will continue to experience growth in the new year; it is predicted that smartphones will outsell PCs in 2012 (according to multiple industry sources). So here’s to another great year in mobile!

Categories
Blog

Infected Mushroom App in Time for #EDC! (@infectedtwitt)

Psy-Trance innovators, Infected Mushroom, 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 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.