Six Flags launches iPhone app
Six Flags, world’s largest regional theme park is all set to provide its guests extra fun with the launch of its Fun Finder iPhone application. This app will provide guests an interactive tour and a thrill guide. It will not only show its users exact location of rides, games and entertainment venues but also locate ATMs retail outlets as well as washrooms through the GPS capability of the iPhone.
According to Jackie Gagne, director of direct and digital marketing at Six Flags, their strategy behind the app is to expand their brand presence in digital platforms and to integrate their offline and online experiences in a way that is relevant to their core audiences.
In her opinion, the offline experience of exploring the park is enhanced through the ease of sharing it with friends online. Facebook Connect functionality allows guests to update their friends about their park experience.
Zodiak to launch FlirtMaps for iPhone
Zodiak Entertainment, content producer has announced the launch of a mobile location-based dating iPhone application, beta version of FlirtMaps. The app can be downloaded free of cost via the Apple App Store in the UK, US, and Italy very soon.
FlirtMaps are designed to put forward a selection of interesting†people to chat to in the area. It is based on a user’s current location and dating preferences. The application has been developed by Neo Network, the digital subsidiary of the Zodiak Entertainment Group.
According to Marco Ferrari, Zodiak Entertainment Chief Digital Officer, FlirtMaps is a new, smart way to meet new people on the go, making digital dating more enjoyable than ever before.
It’s about real people, looking for real love.
In addition to English and Italian, FlirtMaps will soon be made available in Spanish and Portuguese as well. a roll-out to 20 major major countries, including Brazil, Mexico, India, Sweden and Denmark, is also planned for the summer.
Vogue Stylist launches iPhone app to match user wardrobe with advertiser products
Vogue, the worldwide renowned fashion magazine has created an iPhone application that pairs products from advertisers such as Valentino and Gucci with style items from consumers’ own personal collections.
Customers can take photos of the items owned by them and scroll through the various trends highlighted by the Vogue Stylist, then hit refresh to restyle their look. Users have a plethora of options for shopping including products from brands such as Gucci, Hudson Jeans, Kate Spade, Longchamp Paris, Nine West, Valentino and Via Spiga.
According to Stephanie Horton, director of creative services and communications for Vogue, , Vogue Stylist was created to extend the Vogue brand and to encourage consumer connectivity and engagement through new media, while enhancing the value proposition for advertisers in Vogue.
Lexus becomes the first sponsor of new shopping app
Following the overwhelming response of more than 200,000 downloads in its first month received by Cars.com iPhone application; Lexus, Toyota’s upscale marquee has signed on to sponsor the new offering.
Lexus is taking note of the opportunity to reach in-market car shoppers as it clearly understands that shoppers are researching their purchase from a mobile device.
According to Nick Fotis, mobile product manager of Cars.com, the Cars.com iPhone app provides true ownership of voice to in-market car shoppers.
In his opinion, as this is their first advertiser, they are beginning with relatively standard positions – an interstitial page and banners.
In addition to its new iPhone application, Cars.com recently launched several enhancements to its mobile product, including a new search option that allows shoppers to search specifically for certified used vehicles.
VH1 set to raise money for Operation Smile
VH1, the mobile channel and Operation Smile are teaming up with Jessica Simpson to give children with facial deformities a new chance to shine. The team will be promoting its new reality show to encourage consumers to raise money for the organization.
The Send a Smile†SMS campaign will persuade people to donate a smile.†As a result, VH1 will donate $1 for every photo submitted up to $10,000. To participate, mobile users can send a smiling pic to 80366. Conversely, texting the keyword SMILE to 90999 will make a $5 donation.
The network is marketing its show, Jessica Simpson’s The Price of Beauty.†While Simpson has been the organization’s international youth ambassador since 2003.
According to Noah Vadnai, senior director at VH1 Mobile, the primary goal of SMS Send a Smile†campaign is to generate awareness and raise money for Operation Smile.
Users can send a photo of their smile to short code 80366. Consumers can also text the keyword SMILE to the short code 90999 to donate $5.
The company has partnered with Operation Smile because of Jessica Simpson’s involvement with the organization. As far as VH1 is concerned so it is not their first foray intomobile. The company has a mobile-optimised site as well as several iPhone applications.
Bourbon Maker launches First-of-its-Kind Web Series
Jim Beam Bourbon, the world’s number one selling Bourbon has announced that the company is joining hands with ESPN to unveil The Next Round—a Web series hosted by ESPN personality and award-winning journalist Scoop Jackson.
The show is expected to be launched on April 3 and will features famous guests discussing the news with a focus on sports and pop culture. Served up by Jim Beam, a Web series, the brand is promoting with ads within the publisher’s mobile Web site and iPhone applications.
According to Kelly Doss, senior director of bourbons at Beam Global Spirits & Wine Inc., the company is hoping to attract the legal-purchase-age male, the quintessential guy with a sense of humor who has an interest in sports and enjoys quality time with his buddies.
The company likes to create legendary experiences for guys and we know that they bond over Jim Beam cocktails and sports.
It’s spirits brands include Jim Beam Bourbon, Sauza Tequila, Canadian Club Whisky, Courvoisier Cognac, Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Laphroaig Scotch Whisky, Cruzan Rum and Knob Creek Bourbon.
TomTom Upgrades iPhone App
TomTom announced that the TomTom for iPhone navigation can now be purchased in the Apple iTunes. The company has come up with several enhancements to its iPhone application, including HD traffic compatibility and Local Search powered by Google.
The company claims that the new features, combined with enhanced integration with the iPhone interface, ensures optimal routing and a more intuitive navigation experience.
According to the Managing Director of TomTom, Corinne Vigreux, millions of users can now get benefitted from the same easy-to-use and intuitive interface, turn-by-turn spoken navigation and unique routing technology that their 30 million portable navigation device users have been relying on everyday.
He also claimed the company to be the world’s leading provider of navigation solutions and digital maps and considered it to be the most natural fit for an advanced navigation application on the iPhone.
TomTom Traffic automatically updates the receiver at an interval of three minutes. It provides a real-time traffic speed and incident reports directly on the iPhone. TomTom HD Traffic is an optional service and can be purchased from App store.
Aerosmith drummer challenges fans to “Hit Hard†competition
Rock solid rhythms of Aerosmith’s legendary drummer, Joey Kramer is unbeatable. However now iPhone users can challenge their drumming skills on Kramer’s recently launched iPhone application Hit Hardâ€. This move has come after celebrity Services Company Paid Inc. collaborated with Kramer to challenge iPhone fans drumming skills with a new application.
According to Keith Garde, President of Paid Inc. Boston, Aerosmith and Joey Kramer have always been about connecting with their fans in the most cutting-edge ways and this new application is another step in that direction. It consistently continues to support the band in reaching their fans in whatever platform, technologies and methods they are using.
The application also has a different feature for those users who do not want to compete with Kramer’s beat. These users can create their own beats in a freestyle play. Each level in the game has a mock lesson where users can tap the correct sequence to match his beat. Players who will be able to finish all the levels of the game can enter the high score contest for a chance to win a prize from Kramer.
According to Garde, though the application is currently available only for the iPhone and iPod touch, the company is looking forward to expand it into other smartphone platforms.
Hearst’s announces entry into iPhone apps with LMK
Heart’s LMK launched various categories of iPhone applications covering a variety of topics including Lady Ganga, cupcakes and baseball players. These category specific applications known as LMK (Let Me Knowâ€) are priced starting at $0.99.
These applications can be easily downloaded from Apple’s App Store as well as through LMK.com and can be used on the iPhone and iPod Touch. LMK expects to expand its offering on a monthly basis.
The company has set up huge goals for itself which include expanding the aggregate service to other mobile platforms such as Google’s Android phones, or hand-held devices including the various e-Readers or Apple’s iPad. All these service are expected to reach the customers in April.
According to President of LMK, New York, Michael Gutowski, the company saw an interesting market opportunity to break through the clutter of Internet search results and build mobile products that curate, package and deliver the most authoritative content on subjects that matter to consumers.
This resulted into the introduction of LMK, a dynamic delivery platform now powering topic-specific iPhones applications, aggregating and presenting the most current and relevant facts, stories , photos related to each topic.
This platform is currently supporting over 70 iPhones apps and the company is all set to leverage it to support thousand of digital products.
IPhone Hack Round-up: IPhone Without Mobile Service, Web-based AIM Client
The iPhone hacks are starting to get more interesting. Hackers haven’t yet pulled off the number one most requested hack, unlocking the phone for use on any network, but a commenter on a GigaOM thread claims to have found a way to use the iPhone without AT&T service, something which was rumored to have been impossible.
As the commenter writes: Once disconnected, the phone, voicemail, and SMS features of your iPhone will no longer work. You’ll see No Service†in place of the AT&T name with no bars shown. BUT all other functionality of the device will work (including WiFi).â€
Given that pretty much all mobile providers suck, each in their own special way, and even if it’s unlocked there still won’t be 3G support, unlocking the phone seems mildly useless to me (save for the ability to use it abroad).
The ability to use the iPhone as just a handheld mini computer over wifi actual strikes me as far more useful in the long run.
But it isn’t just hacks that are trickling in, there’s some useful web apps as well.
My personal favorite is the iChat for iPhone which is written in JavaScript and allows for web-based chats on the AIM network. While it’s ideal with a wireless connection, it’s not too bad even over EDGE. The source is available and can be hosted on your own server.
There’s also a nice skin for Google Reader which looks like it would make it a little easier to use on the iPhone, but i can’t figure out how to make it work (or else it’s just timing out on my current EDGE connection).
For other useful iPhone apps, check out the iPhone Application List which is doing a good job of tracking down various iPhone optimized web tools.
Having used the iPhone for a few days now I’ll admit that the device is growing on me. There are still a number of things that annoy me (number one being the lack of multimedia messages — even my camera-less five-year-old Nokia could do that), but I actually find it to be an excellent phone.
Yes I’d like more features, but in my experience the call quality is excellent, dialing and contact navigation is by far the easiest of any phone I’ve used and the SMS interface is wonderful.
If you’d like to check in on the state of the unlocking hack there’s the iPhone Dev Wiki. Earlier the site wound up on Slashdot and Digg which caused it to choke so I won’t add a link, but feel free to login to the IRC channel if you’d like to help out the hackers, it’s #iphone on irc.osx86.hu.
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