1. Developing an institutional
mobile application
Speaker:
Adam Elce
North Nottinghamshire College
aelce@nnc.ac.uk
#rscefair

2. A little about myself
Adam Elce
Information Advisor at NNC
4.5 years in post
Based in Learning Resources Team
Lead in ILT developments
aelce@nnc.ac.uk
01909 504528
#ElceyOwen
#NNC_Worksop

3. FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
“The mobile phone was the most
popular device used to access the
Internet wirelessly, away from the
home or workplace, with just under
a third (31 per cent) of Internet
users connecting this way. The
adoption of mobile phone
technology is being led by 16 to
24-year-old Internet users, with 44
per cent using a mobile phone to
access the Internet.“
Office for National Statistics
Statistical Bulletin: Internet Access
August 2010
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/iahi0810.pdf

4. Circa 2010
•Personally, little interest in iPhone 1-3~
•Followed iPad development closely up to launch in April
•Original iPad acquired May 2010
•Fell in love with principle of app’s approx. 2 hours later!
•Commenced research into the development of a grand NNC iPad app
• EBooks
• VLE
• Online Resources
• Media
• Much more

5. Resources Used
www.appideas.com

6. Initial idea tweaked
•iPad app quotes range from £2k - £20k……
•Feet back on the ground
•Tablets = new technology = new / small market
•Smartphones = current technology = large / expanding market
•As useful for marketing as for accessing resources
•Marketing feature ideas added
• Contact Page
• Course Directory
• NNC Blog (RSS Feed)
•Money raised through ILT budget
•Bids submitted for tender through contacts on appideas website

7. Our first app
•Tender offered to Swanify end of July 2010 (www.swanify.com)
•First draft submitted end of August 2010 - http://screenr.com/pOr
•Changes made by mid September 2010 - http://screenr.com/5cn
•Payment made October 2010
•Final design submitted to App store end of October 2010
•Available to download early November 2010
•Over 250 downloads by February 2011
•New part time course guide added January 2011 (£75)
•New full time guide added May 2011 (£100)
•Over 500 downloads to date, with little marketing

8. Swanify
www.swanify.com
T: 01592 561378

9. Moving on
•Research into more functional app Early 2011
•Site visits by multiple developers Mid 2011
•Existing FE / HE apps downloaded Most of 2011
•Extensive feature list put together Early 2011
•Market research undertaken January - March 2011
•Presentation to SMT March 2011
•Funding awarded March 2011
•Negotiations underway March – April 2011
•Tender awarded April 2011
•Development underway May 2011+

10. Market Research (undertaken early 2011)

11. Market Research (cont.)

12. Developers
Smartphonemedia www.smartphonemedia.co.uk
Swanify www.swanify.com
Geocast TV www.geocasttv.com
Blackboard Mobile www.blackboard.com
Roars www.roars.in
Cyberlinks Technologies www.cyberlinks.in
Harbinger Group http://harbingergroup.com

13. Tender awarded to:
Smartphonemedia
www.smartphonemedia.co.uk
•More experience in field
•More for money
•More flexibility
•Multi Platform

14. New NNC App
•Proposal submitted May 2011
•Estimated time set by developers = 6 weeks
•Development commenced May 2011 onwards
•NNC Goalposts changing!
•First draft of template June 2011
•Configuring of internal XML July 2011
•NNC Rebranding October 2011
•NNC ‘flirting with various features’ Summer 2011-March 2012
•Change of template to suit branding April 2012
•Submission to App store May 2012
•Live June 2012 (Apple only, others to follow)

15. Features of new app
Currently on app: Coming soon:
•Interactive Course Directory •Local area information
o Sections, Reviews, Videos o Events, map, facilities, services
•Live News Feed •Travel routes
o Bus, Train
•Course Enquiries
•Calendar
•Events o Student planner, timetables
•Interactive Map •VLE Link
•Facility Information •Useful Resources
•Media Section •eBook Library
o Photo Gallery, Videos
•Vouchers
•Social area
o Facebook & Twitter links •Menus
•Contacts directory •Surveys

16. Demonstration & Q&A
Thank you for your participation