What does a mobile application do?
A Mobile Application is a small software programme enabling you to communicate your brand message and present your products and services to an app compatible mobile phone. The phone user is able to download your application directly on to their device via an app store.

Why choose to publish a mobile application?
It can be useful to take note of what is happening outside of our immediate industry for marketing and creative ideas and inspiration. Technology is changing rapidly, now more than ever, so we are constantly looking at innovative ways to take our products and services to market. The mobile application technology is such a great tool for business and consumer. Today's cell phone is much more than just a phone and supplies a constant flow of information and interactive platforms. An iPhone app for example is a must for leading brands.

How do people get the application?
Downloading your iPhone app is extremely easy. Users can download directly from an app store, iPhone users for example would purchase from iTunes (a Wi-Fi connection is necessary for direct device downloads). Your application can be found through the search facility on the app store or directly from a link on your website or the websites of your affiliates.

How will a mobile application benefit your business?
The immediate benefit from a marketing perspective is that you will have a direct line of 
communication to your customers while they are away from their computer. 
One of the largest benefits of the application is the potential mass-market exposure to reach your consumer community globally.

There are currently over 57 million iPhone users and every one of them now has potential access to your application.

The future benefits and potential for your brand is infinite. The device functionality combined with potential market reach has some very exciting possibilities.

These are challenging, unprecedented times that can be also one of the more exciting times. It forces everyone to do more with less and push each other to be innovative.  The publishing of a mobile application is a great step and an example of moving in that direction.

Does the Apps Store Offer A Business Opportunity?
The business app store – how it might work.  Imagine a web site offering firms a range of applications that make up a complete business suite, such as accounting, HR, ERP and CRM.  Such a set of tools could be paid for, downloaded, and configurable online, and address multiple hardware platforms and operating systems.  The benefit to IT managers would be that such a suite could be up and running in a fraction of the time normally associated with deploying business-critical applications, and at a lower cost.  Many business software suites are already available in modules, but not currently through an online, downloadable service.

• How about for a service business or smaller organisation?
  The mobile application technology opens up a range of opportunities to a ‘blended’ experience to your customer.  The mobile phone is discrete and usually with a person on their travels – the opportunities here are limited only by the imagination

How Can Publishing an iPhone Application Benefit My Business?
There are two ways of using iPhone applications: they can be your business, or they can be made to help your business.

The iPhone market is still in the early stages and growing quickly, which makes it even more attractive for business owners.

An iPhone application is a product that can be used to promote your business or it can be sold as a consumer product. A mobile application is a good way both to produce and invest at the present time.

What is an iPhone?
Essentially, the iPhone is a mobile phone with a mini-computer at its core.  Using 3G technology, users can browse the web, send emails, store songs, watch video, and most other tasks you would usually associate with working on a laptop.  In a rapidly growing market of 'smart phones', which includes the Blackberry brand, the iPhone has received excellent reviews and is clearly way ahead of the competition.

Good for Business use?

Many comment that the iPhone has already improved their working life. Whereas previously, they would rush back to the office/home to check on emails and online issues, they can now check everything via the iPhone. You can either use a WiFi connection at home/work, or out and about, and if one isn't available you simply use the O2 3G network to access the web.
In addition to the benefits of web access, which is obviously available on other handsets, the iPhone is streets ahead of the competition with the number of 'Apps' you can download to your handset. These tiny applications, which are either free or cost a few pounds, can perform a number of essential business tasks - such as: enabling you to FTP files to your server from the phone, check the latest news, compile spreadsheets, translate text, keep a track on expenses, and much more.

The non-business benefits are even bigger - easy access to everything from YouTube and Facebook, to storing thousands of songs and photo's within the handset. The new model also includes video, so you'll not need to take a digital camera out with you again.

What models are available?
The new iPhone 3GS comes in white and black, with either 16GB or 32GB of memory. Unless you're planning on downloading a massive number of tracks to use on its inbuilt iPod, the lower memory model should satisfy most small business owners!

Where can I get one from?
If you want to have an iPhone, you'll need to sign up to an O2, Orange or Vodafone contract - they have the sole rights in the UK - however 3 will be obtaining the rights as well in 2010 and it is available in Tesco Stores on various option plans.  In other European countries you can use an iPhone on a choice of networks.
An iPod touch can be used to download applications where a user wishes to retain their existing mobile phone and this can be purchased online or on the high street.

Why productise my work?
Technology enables new efficiencies in distribution changing the definition of what is commercially viable across the board.
Many commodities or leading retailers provide good examples:-

• Music
  How many albums are available on iTunes that are not sold on the shelves of Asda, Tesco or HMV?
• Books
  How many books are available via Amazon that are not sat on the shelves in Borders, WH Smiths or Waterstones?

Why Would People Pay for Content?
There are many and varied reasons why people are ready to pay for content that they could find probably for free on the web.  Here are some of the most common reasons:

• Time is Money
  How much is your time worth? 
  Searching for specific information on the internet takes time, there is a mass of information presented.  Therefore, people will often prefer to pay someone else to do this work and compile the results in a comprehensive and easy to consume format.
• Exclusivity and Uniqueness
  People pay for exclusivity, content that is not available elsewhere is very valuable. Generally, if the content available in a mobile application is not available elsewhere people will pay for to access the unique content.
• Getting the Truth
  You get what you pay for! Web content and be misleading and even inaccurate.
  Paid-for applications are perceived as having greater integrity.
• Convenience
  People pay for convenience. And, despite the power of Google and search engines, the internet is not as convenient as one tends to think. People will pay to have consolidated and relevant information at one accessible source.
• Associations with a 'Celebrity'
  People have passion about the perceived gurus in their subject. They enjoy being associated with, and having access to, celebrities in their field of interest. Mobile applications provide a new medium for accessing valued content on the go.
• Become part of a Community
  If you are passionate about a subject and like to mix and talk with other people who have the same level of passion, mobile application can provide the medium for a shared experience.  People will pay for an enhanced or accelerated learning opportunity.
• Access to information when you need it
  The mobile phone is so discrete that you have access to your content when you need it.  There are many such situations where people have a spare few minutes to review advice, guidance, revision or something that inspires.

How Long Will This Opportunity Last?
Apple has been way ahead of the market with the App Store.  In just one year it has become a billion dollar business and a trend setter for the rest of the market.
Will Android, Nokia, Blackberry and Microsoft new to the market I believe that we are at the start of an interesting journey.

Does My Application Need to Be Complex?
Some of the most successful applications sell because they are easy to use.  We would suggest that the focus be on the benefit to your user and the value of your content within your target market.  Once your application is fit for purpose and in the app store all that remains is to let your potential customers know where it is.

What Will It Cost to Develop My Application?
Before any publisher can give you a price that contains any level of accuracy, they will need to know what exactly your application is going to do; we required a specification of work (Spec).
If this is a new concept then we are sure this is something that we can help you with. The spec does not need to be long however the more detail we have the more acuratly we can quote on the development time.

We work with you to understand what you wish to achieve from a business point of view, rather than from a technical point of view.
If the functionality of your application is complex we will advise you on the price for writing the spec.   If we have charged for a spec it will be detailed enough that you can use it to get competitive quotes.

If you then decide to use us to develop your application, we take the price of the specification off the price of the development work.  We work on a transparent basis.  Of course, choosing your development partner should not just be a case of who gave you the lowest quote. Often less expensive equates to cheap in terms of quality.  
Your application may need bugfixes or new features added in future, so consider your new development partner as a potentially long term relationship.

Our business model allows for upfront payment of your application development, revenue share or a mixture of both.
Our project managers will work with you to explore the best options for you.