Young & Free iPhone apps for all!

We've just released three Young & Free iPhone apps! Each easy-to-use and free iPhone app allows users to browse blog posts and tweets and watch the spokesperson's videos and all of the Living Young & Free Show episodes. We even have a Young & Free HQ app that has all of the regional feeds in one.

+ Download the Alabama Chris Anderso app
+ Download the Texas Josh Garrett app
+ Download the Young & Free HQ app

The plan is to release a new app each time a spokesperson is named. That means we will have new apps for the new spokespeople in Alberta, South Carolina and Tennessee within a couple of months.

Tim

Thing 3 of 30: Develop an Android app

September is 30 things I would implement or consider implementing at my credit union if I was a credit union leader.

Thing 3: develop an Android app

While considering developing an iPhone app, you should also take a look at the Google Android platform.

Unlike the closed Apple iPhone platform, Android is an open-source software stack for mobile devices that includes an operating system, middleware and key applications. The Android SDK provides the tools and APIs necessary to begin developing applications that run on Android-powered devices.

According to Wikipedia, Android was announced almost two years ago on November 5, 2007 with the founding of the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium of 48 hardware, software and telecom companies devoted to advancing open standards for mobile devices. Google released most of the Android code under the Apache License, a free-software and open source license.

Now that there are a number of handsets from various manufacturers in the marketplace, Android seems to be gaining momentum.

And, also unlike developing an iPhone app today, you can be one of the very first financial insitutions to lay claim to publishing an Android app. Here is an article on the Net Banker blog that compares banking Apps in the Google Android Market vs. Apple iPhone App Store. As you can see, only Bank of America and Alliant Credit Union are represented in the Google Android Market to date.

If you don't have internal developers, consider partnering with another credit union to co-develop an app or look for a small independent Android app developer in your area or even look overseas to get it done.

Tim

Thing 2 of 30: Develop an iPhone app

September is 30 things I would implement or consider implementing at my credit union if I was a credit union leader.

Thing 2: develop an iPhone app

There is a lot of talk about mobile banking these days, but very little action by most credit unions on the subject.

With tens of  millions of iPhones and iPod Touches in consumers' hands and a  seamless way to download and install apps through the iTunes App Store, the iPhone platform represents a unique opportunity to create a mobile application that could actually get used by your members.

Before you say, "We can't do that!" The development platform and options range from the simple to the complex. It could be as simple as TDECU's CULoc8, branch and ATM finder or as complex as USAA's iPhone remote deposit capture application. If you don't have internal developers, consider partnering with a credit union that already has an iPhone app that they may be willing to license to your credit union or look for a small independent iPhone app developer. You could even consider looking overseas to India for an inexpensive way to get it done.

My point is, don't wait around for your core banking system provider to come up with a solution. Develop something useful now and then let every member know about it, teach them how to use it and also get the word out in your marketplace that you have an iPhone app.

Tim