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Mobile Apps Mobile Web news and press

5 Things All Businesses Need to Know About Mobile

Recently, our President, Paul Jacobs and our COO, Bob Kernen spoke at Better Business Bureau in Southfield, Michigan. During this event Paul and Bob gave insight on the 5 Things All Businesses Need to Know About Mobile. Because of mobile usage, our culture has permanently changed in countless ways.
 
Before looking into the important things to know about mobile, check out this video below showing the things the iPhone helped destroy!

Well, now that we can see how the iPhone and apps have proven to be helpful in every way.. lets take a look at the 5 important things all businesses need to remember and learn when dealing with mobile!
 

Thing 1: The smartphone is King

 
“There’s an app for that!” App transformed the smartphone into a phenomenon. Owning a smartphone is becoming more common every day. Smartphones are always with you…people even sleep with them!
When apple launched the App Store the world changed. Showing that since 2016, mobile takes over desktop showing that 63% of internet usage is on mobile devices. However, only 10% of time is spent on smartphones is on mobile websites. And this is where we see how apps rule; 90% of time spent on smartphones is spent on mobile apps!
With that being said, smartphone is king by being the most valuable real estate a marketer can have. Where all companies can participate, and being a limited barrier to entry.
 

Thing 2: What is an app?

 
Alright, so lets talk basics… what is an app exactly? The basic definition of an app is that an app is self-contained piece of software designed to serve a discreet function and work on a specific type or types of devices. So, we can see that an app isn’t a website on your phone!
So, what is the purpose for an app? It’s purpose build software that leverages the power of the smartphone. While bringing us location awareness, phone/email/text integration, part of the purchase function.
Not only are apps easy to use, apps are easy to get! Users get apps in the two major apps stores; Google play and iTunes AppStore.
 

Think 3: What does a developer do?

 
Here are jācapps, we have a complexed development process in order to satisfy and help our clients succeed with their new apps!
Our development process goes through 4 steps…
Discover, design, develop and deploy: 

  1. Discover:
    • We discover where your app will take root and draw inspiration from our conversations with you to brainstorm the ideas and discuss the requirements that are needed for development.
  2. Design:
    • Once a concept has been approved, we combine skills and strategy to make sure your apps look great and are easy to use.
  3. Develop:
    • After you’ve approved our specification document, our in-house development team gets to work. This phrase culminates with rigorous QA testing.
  4. Deploy:
    • We submit your apps to their respective stores and watch the download numbers skyrocket! But we don’t stop there… we provide ongoing maintenance and upgrades to ensure compatibility with new devices and iOS versions as they become available.

Click here to see more of what we do!

 

Thing 4: What apps can do

 
Apps are on more than just your mobile devices. jācapps app everywhere communicates across all devices! Through mobile phones, connected car, smart TVs, smart speakers, tablets, and wearables.

Let’s take a look at some of our clients and the apps that have been created for them!

  •  Dr. Nandi’s Health Hero
    • Dr. Nandi wanted to create a resource that is reachable anywhere and anytime for the individuals who are changing their lives to make health #1 priority! He wanted individuals to have access to health & wellness tips, research, cookbooks, answers to questions, and help meet each individual need, throughout their health & wellness journey.
    • Our team created an app that is designed to:
      • Receive simple and powerful daily health and wellness tipsProvide a full library of books on topics from Beating IBS Naturally to Organic Living to Living Gluten-Free and more.
      • Provide a monthly Health Hero Magazine with articles on the latest research in health and wellness, interviews with thought leaders and industry experts.
      • Provide an exclusive link to the Health Hero Superfoods Cookbook
      • Provide the “Calming The Chaos” 7-day audio program- Dr. Nandi’s foolproof formula to kill daily stress in minutes.
      • Supply a private, member-only Health Hero Facebook Group where Dr. Nandi delivers health and wellness information, answers member questions, hosts Facebook live segments and more.
  • Lawyers Mutual (LMIC)
    • LMIC wanted to get text and video content to their clients in the easiest to use way to certify that those clients received that content and information. As well as, verifying that the information was understood in order to providecertification.
    • Our team created an app that allows the users to log-in and see the content that they needed to review in order to get their continuing education credits and other certifications.
    • Using this app, users can:
      • Easily log-in, watch a video or read a PDF, and take a short quiz. All of this engagement is recorded and credited to the user toward their continuing education requirements.
      • This app is unique in that it puts content that usually has to be consumed in front of a desktop environment and puts it in a place where users can easily get to it and use it in the place and time that bests suits their busy schedules.
      • For LMIC, it provides a competitive differentiator and a way to have a closer relationship with their clients by providing many more touch points with that client.

Click here to check out some more of our work!
 

Thing 5: Marketing your App

 
Our work with you does not end at the sale. We will continue to market your app through database, website, social media, advertising, and signage!
When dealing with the database, we will use your company’s database to create messages to your clients about the benefits and how easy it is to get your product. While through your website, we will create a page on your site that shows users how to get the app and how to use it.
But, we don’t stop there we will advertise your products through social media and signage by talking about your new app in regular posts and create signage for your retail locations that helps show off your new app and all the benefits it has for your customers!
Click here to check out more of who we are! 
If you are interest in us, the apps we’ve built,  or a product of your own, contact us at sales@jacapps.com or (248) 353-9030

Categories
Mobile Apps Mobile Web

What Does GDPR Mean For My Applications

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) padlock on european union flag

Have you been inundated with notices from organizations addressing GDPR?

We have. Therefore, we wanted to make sure that you are aware of some new regulations around user data privacy, implemented in the European Union, that could affect your app. Our goal is to make sure our clients are abreast on anything that may directly affect their applications.

GDPR: What is it?

European General Data Protection Regulation  – AKA GDPR. On May 25th, 2018, a government update established a new set of laws dictating how companies in the EU collect and use data and handle consumer privacy. It also gives those consumers greater control over their data on the internet.

Fingerprint and personal information inside

This law change, years in the making, sets a new standard for data collection, storage, and usage among all companies that operate in Europe. Currently, GDPR represents one of the most robust data privacy laws in the world.
Many of the ideas outlined in GDPR came from the earlier regulation, and an even older set of principles, which covers the ways consumer information should be used. Those practices have shaped policies in the United States. The United States has historically regulated privacy with piecemeal laws for the privacy of healthcare records, financial documents, and federal communications.

But this is the US – How are we affected?

Does this mean GDPR only affects you, if your consumers live in Europe? Yes and no. On the forefront, GDPR only affects the European Union, meaning the rights outlined within it don’t translate to other countries.
But… you should update your privacy policy and terms of service, in the case that any of your app users may be in the European Union. We encourage you to check with your attorney for specific actions you should take in order to be in compliance with these new regulations.
We have already had clients update their documentation to specifically exemplify EU-located users from their apps with the inclusion of language such as: “This app is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.”
This should be a simple addition to the document hosted on your website.
Additionally, if you are asking users to register for your app or website, consider adding language (on those screens) to the effect of: “By registering (or clicking “Save”), you agree that you are not located within the European Economic Area.” If this functionality is within your app, and not via a web page, please contact us at info@jacapps.com and we can add the language there.
If you do not want to exclude European consumers, your attorney can also help you with that language.
Both routes begin with a call to your attorney and end with a client notice.
Again, the most prudent step is to review this with your attorney and we can then make adjustments to your app based on that advice.
 

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Awards Mobile Apps

COO, Bob Kernen Named MVP by Local Publication

Recently, our COO, Bob Kernen, was named MVP – “Most Valuable Professional” by Corp! Magazine.
The Corp! MVP awards celebrates individuals that make business happen in Michigan and serve their community. These individuals also demonstrate strong leadership skills in growing and managing a successful business, becoming industry experts, and delivering lucrative business results.
On April 19th, in Detroit Corp! awarded multiple professionals, entrepreneurs, and millennials for their pivoting work in our community. Bob was present along with some great industry leaders from many segments. Not only is Bob a Crop! MVP but he’s also an Emmy Award-winning writer and published author.
“This is a really nice honor. jācapps has been recognized by Corp! magazine before, and the whole team really deserves this one as well. I’m just one ‘professional’ on an outstanding team who demonstrates every day that when it comes to innovation and technology, Detroit is truly world class.” Bob Kernen explains. Here at jācapps we believe that our teamwork drives our success. Without an outstanding team and team bond, we wouldn’t be able to accomplish what we are today.
Bob is a seasoned entrepreneur and startup specialist, and has also worked closely with major brands including Ford, A&E Television, Microsoft, and Hearst. Throughout these experiences Bob’s focus has been on new product development with an emphasis on user experience and monetization.
Bob oversees strategy and operations for us, and with his help we have produced over 1100 apps, which have been downloaded over 22 million times. We are a premier app developer in the radio space, the mobile solutions provider for hundreds of innovative organizations, and a house developer for Ford.
We appreciate the support and posts from both MI Tech News, MAB News Briefs, and All Access Music Group! Thank you for sharing our accomplishments for us!
 
Click the links below to see their posts!
https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/176042/jacapps-coo-bob-kernen-named-most-valuable-profess

jacapps COO Kernen Named Most Valuable Professional By Corp! Magazine


 
http://news.michmab.com/jacapps-coo-bob-kernen-named-most-valuable-professional-by-corp-magazine/
If you are interested in us, the apps we’ve built, or a product of your own, contact us at sales@jacapps.com or (248) 353-9030.

Categories
Mobile Apps

jācapps on FOX 2 Detroit

Paul-Jacobs-jacapps-fox-2-detroit

A few weeks ago, Derek Kevra from FOX 2 Detroit visited the jācapps offices and needless to say, our team was excited! The final piece, which aired April 10th on Fox2’s 6PM news, gave Fox’s viewers a taste of what jācapps is all about.
Derek interviewed Paul Jacobs, Bob Kernen, Ben Levy, and Kate Coyle-Levy about where we came from, what we’ve done so far, and where we see both jācapps and the tech industry going in the future.
Paul Jacobs described jācapps as the world’s oldest start-up, but the piece made it clear how far our “started in a storage closet” company has come.. jācapps has built over 1,100 apps – every single one right here in Detroit.
With mobile technology booming we are here to help our clients get to the next level. As Bob Kernen would say, Detroit is where builders and doers are born – we know how to make things, and we know how to make them well. California might be the tech hub of the US, but our “Detroit vs. Everybody” mentality extends to our tech companies.. With or without an Amazon location. 😉
We may have started as a radio app development company but we’ve produced logistics apps to help construction and trucking companies communicate with clients, apps for health and wellness leaders such as Dr. Nandi and ACCESS Community Health, and apps for travel companies.
Now, we’ve got our sights set on App Everywhere® – especially with the boom of Amazon Echo (Alexa) and Connected Car capabilities. These technologies create yet another sensor in which businesses can communicate with their employees and consumers.
We had a blast meeting with some of the FOX 2 team. Check out the official video below, or the FOX2 direct link here.

If you’re interested in us, the apps we’ve built, or a product of your own, contact us at sales@jacapps.com or (248) 353-9030.

Categories
Podcasting Radio

Partner Update: Podcast Movement Relationship Expansion

Podcast Movement 2018

jācapps sister company, Jacobs Media, and the organizers of the Podcast Movement conference announced an expansion of their relationship.  For the 2018 convention this July in Philadelphia, Jacobs Media will be developing 9 sessions over two days targeted at members of the radio industry, doubling the agenda from the 2017 event, which drew close to 200 attendees.
“Broadcasters Meet Podcasters” Comes To Philadelphia In July
Jacobs-Media-Logo“’Broadcasters Meet Podcasters’ debuted last year with a one-day slot, but the interest was so strong from the radio industry, we wanted to take it up a level,” company President Fred Jacobs announced.  “Podcasting represents a tremendous opportunity for the radio industry to expand its content delivery and brands, and Podcast Movement is the best forum to learn about the space and where it’s going.”
Podcast Movement’s Co-Founder/Organizer, Dan Franks, recognizes the important relationship between broadcasting and podcasting, remarking, “We expect the turnout to this year’s event to be the largest yet, due in part to the increased presence of the broadcast professionals.  We can’t wait to see even more new faces in 2018.” Last year, broadcast execs representing Hubbard, Beasley, Cox, Entercom, Emmis, Bonneville, and other key radio groups were in attendance.
The 2018 Podcast Movement will take place in Philadelphia, July 23-26, at the Downtown Philadelphia Marriott.  For more information, and a discount code for the conference, contact Paul Jacobs at Paul@JacobsMedia.com or click here.
Podcast Movement 2018 Logo
If you need a refresher on Podcast listeners and how they intertwine with radio listeners, check out this infographic and the results from last years’ TechSurvey results.
About jācapps: Mobile apps provide versatile solutions for businesses and consumers alike. jācapps has developed over 1000 apps throughout 10 years in the industry. The company’s work goes far beyond smartphones to deliver your message through connected cars, tablets, smart speakers, smart TVs, streaming devices, wearables, through web applications and whatever comes next. jācapps’ App Everywhere® suite allows clients to utilize apps in unique ways, as mobile is put to work for businesses and consumers throughout the technology sphere.
For more information please contact Jacquelyn LaFrance at jacky@jacapps.com
 

Categories
Connected Car Mobile Apps Smart Home Smart TVs

jācapps Continues to Grow Into the New Year

Business people shaking hands, finishing up a meeting

BINGHAM FARMS, MI – January 30, 2017 — As the mobile application space continues to grow, our team grows as well. We have recently brought in a few new employees to help strengthen our mobile solution abilities and reach beyond our current industry base. Dante Ciullo, Senior Android Developer, brings with him 20 years of software development and 5 years of mobile app development experience. Jacquelyn LaFrance, Marketing Manager, is on course to ramp up our Marketing efforts, define our mark in the business and attract diversity in the industry segments we pursue. Marty Watson, Business Development Manager, will help to expand our mobile solutions beyond the Detroit and media industries. We are very excited to have our newest employees on the jācapps team and anticipate valuable insights from each of them.

We’ve officially begun the expansion into the office space next door!

Along with our team expansion we are also in the process of expanding our office space! We have acquired the office space next door to house our Development and Production teams and give them space to grow their departments. This expansion would not be possible without the hard work put in by all of our employees, but our fantastic clients as well. Without you, none of this would have been possible.
We also want to highlight our entire team for their amazing volunteer work at the end of 2017. In honor of Thanksgiving, we adopted a family to provide them with a Thanksgiving dinner. To celebrate the holidays together, our team also volunteered for Project Remodel to help remodel the previous Durfee School in Detroit, which will open as the Community Innovation Center. We are so excited to watch our team grow and continue their work in the local community.
To learn more about how mobile apps can benefit your business, reach out to us at 248-353-9030 or marketing@jacapps.com we love talking mobile!

Categories
Mobile Apps

Delivering News To Millennials, There’s An App For That

Reading news on mobile phone. Hand holding smartphone with newspaper, news website. Modern flat design graphic elements, thin line icons set for web banner, web site, infographics. Vector illustration

By: Paul Jacobs

Great news for news stations! Mobile Apps Are the Gateway For News Stations to Reach Millennials.

All news stations – whether commercial or public – struggle to generate great ratings among the notoriously hard to reach Millennial generation.  There are many reasons for this, and a new study from Qualtrics on behalf of Localytics indicates the best way for news-formatted stations to reach Millennials is with a mobile app.

The survey focused on consumers who have news-oriented apps on their smartphone, and found that overall, one-third (36%) report usage of these apps has increased in the past year.  Among those people, increased use of news-oriented apps was highest among Millennials:

Apps for news stations are a perfect fit for these young consumers as 85% of respondents get news from their smartphones.   The study finds that three-fourths (75%)  will get news on their app when they receive a push notification about breaking news.  Clearly, this is a feature you want to have in your mobile app.

Finally, we want to draw your attention to an outstanding mobile app we created for WTOP in Washington DC.  This study also concluded that the most effective news apps provide some level of personalization which is a prominent feature in WTOP’s new app.  Check it out – we feel this app is “best in breed” and exemplifies what a great mobile app should be for a news radio station.

Download the WTOP app from iTunes here. It’s also available in the Google Play Market here.

You can read more about the study’s findings at:  http://info.localytics.com/blog/news-and-streaming-apps-survey-2018?utm_medium=email&utm_source=marketo&utm

Simply having an app isn’t enough.  Understanding how to make the app reach new listeners and increase engagement is key to maximize your investment in your mobile strategy. And solidifying your future with a younger audience is pretty important too.

To learn more about how mobile apps can benefit your business, reach out to us at 248-353-9030 or marketing@jacapps.com we love talking mobile!

Categories
Mobile Apps

Delivering News To Millennials, There's An App For That

Reading news on mobile phone. Hand holding smartphone with newspaper, news website. Modern flat design graphic elements, thin line icons set for web banner, web site, infographics. Vector illustration

By: Paul Jacobs
Great news for news stations! Mobile Apps Are the Gateway For News Stations to Reach Millennials.
All news stations – whether commercial or public – struggle to generate great ratings among the notoriously hard to reach Millennial generation.  There are many reasons for this, and a new study from Qualtrics on behalf of Localytics indicates the best way for news-formatted stations to reach Millennials is with a mobile app.
The survey focused on consumers who have news-oriented apps on their smartphone, and found that overall, one-third (36%) report usage of these apps has increased in the past year.  Among those people, increased use of news-oriented apps was highest among Millennials:

Apps for news stations are a perfect fit for these young consumers as 85% of respondents get news from their smartphones.   The study finds that three-fourths (75%)  will get news on their app when they receive a push notification about breaking news.  Clearly, this is a feature you want to have in your mobile app.
Finally, we want to draw your attention to an outstanding mobile app we created for WTOP in Washington DC.  This study also concluded that the most effective news apps provide some level of personalization which is a prominent feature in WTOP’s new app.  Check it out – we feel this app is “best in breed” and exemplifies what a great mobile app should be for a news radio station.
Download the WTOP app from iTunes here. It’s also available in the Google Play Market here.
You can read more about the study’s findings at:  http://info.localytics.com/blog/news-and-streaming-apps-survey-2018?utm_medium=email&utm_source=marketo&utm
Simply having an app isn’t enough.  Understanding how to make the app reach new listeners and increase engagement is key to maximize your investment in your mobile strategy. And solidifying your future with a younger audience is pretty important too.
To learn more about how mobile apps can benefit your business, reach out to us at 248-353-9030 or marketing@jacapps.com we love talking mobile!

Categories
Connected Car Mobile Apps Smart Home Smart TVs

Reinventing Legacy Brands

By: Bob Kernen
Among all the enormous city state-sized displays, and scrappy start-up booths, one of the things that caught my eye at this year’s CES2018 in Las Vegas was the presence of brands that have been around for a long time, but are hardly associated the cutting edge.
From Blackberry and Kodak to Polaroid and Sylvania, they were all there, some in better shape than others. What was clear is that while there is undoubtedly value in a recognizable name, consumers’ associations with that name are what really matter, and changing those associations is really difficult.
Some of these brands are truly “legacy” and their products have changed little from their pre-digital heydays, others are playing the “retro” card, while a few have truly reinvented themselves.
Companies like RCA and Sylvania are largely in that first category. While their products may be modernized, upon closer inspection they are haven’t really changed that much. RCA showed off a number of pretty standard-looking TVs, and even a portable media player that had a slot for a DVD (kinda retro, right?). Sylvania still makes lightbulbs, they’ve just gotten a little “smart”-er.
The “shake it like a Polaroid picture” guys had a colorful, brightly lit display. And while it had a number of interesting digital elements, the center of attention was the old school polaroid camera, now dubbed the OneStep 2. The camera is still the same boxy shape as it’s been since the 1970s, and it still spits out your picture (on actual photographic paper) from the front. Polaroid has embraced its retro, analog past with gusto, and is trying to make it relevant to a whole new generation of Millennial and GenZ hipsters as the new (old) way of enjoying instant photography. And it just might work: if you use Instagram, you’ve probably noticed that their icon on your phone borrows heavily from the original Polaroid camera. How it ultimately works out for Polaroid is hard to say, but people at CES were definitely enjoying taking their pictures, albeit digitally, sitting on the giant Polaroid camera at the entrance to the booth.
Some of those legacy brands, however, have transformed themselves into something entirely new. Rand McNally, the map people for those of you old enough to remember, has completely changed their business. As printed maps have been almost universally replaced by Google Maps, Rand McNally has morphed their business into one that could be described as a “data” business. They use their massive store of mapping data to drive a number of new products, most of them targeted at a very specific audience segment: truckers and trucking companies. Among their products are digital driver logs, and purpose-built tablets for helping truckers turn any truck into a connected vehicle.
Also in this category is Blackberry. Even though they were arguably among the first smartphones to market, they were overwhelmed by the innovations that came from Apple and Android to the point that their handsets went from being ubiquitous to punchlines. Their devices may have faded in popularity, but at heart Blackberry was always a software company. Now their software operating system QNX has become a popular OS for a variety of embedded systems, including dashboards, where real time processing and high security are important. The “crackberry” may be extinct, but Blackberry has successfully transformed itself into a robust software company.
I was most surprised by the Kodak booth, where I found not a single role of film, but instead drones, solar panels and smart lightbulbs. All of these new products were found beneath the familiar red and yellow “K.” The company even made an announcement about a new crypto-currency (think Bitcoin). Not exactly the Kodak of the flashbulbs and film era. But as a company that has always relied on technology, Kodak was perfectly positioned to put its legions of scientists and engineers to work on new problems. It may be a smaller, more focused company, but Kodak is still in the game, in new games, and it’s got a real shot at redefining this century old brand.
All of these established brands prove that while brands can be durable, the technology world never stands still. Brands must work hard to constantly evolve and redefine themselves for consumers, lest they be consigned to the attic of nostalgia.
To learn more about how mobile apps can benefit your business, reach out to us at 248-353-9030 or marketing@jacapps.com we love talking mobile!

Categories
Connected Car Mobile Apps Smart Home Smart TVs

CES 2018

Next week, jācapps will be at the Consumer Electronic Show 2018 in Las Vegas. CES 2018 is a must for anyone wanting a glimpse of the newest gadgets, toys, car tech and more. As you’d expect, AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality) will be hot topics of conversation.
Smartphone technology, as always, will be at the center of much of the technology exhibited at the show. Smart speakers, the hot gift to give of this holiday season, and the voice control technology behind them will be another theme of the show.
Not only will we be exploring what the future of technology holds, our sister company, Jacobs Media, will be leading a select group of radio industry leaders on an exclusive tour of CES. We are looking forward to next week’s event and hope to see you there!
Our founder, Fred Jacobs, talked to the CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, Gary Shapiro, about this year’s show. Check that out here.
To learn more about how mobile apps can benefit your business, reach out to us at 248-353-9030 or marketing@jacapps.com we love talking mobile!