Locals take bite out of Apple "apps"

With iPad madness upon us, a few local companies are now using, selling, or developing their own iPhone and iPad "apps."

Eric Wotila, a Cadillac-based web developer and 9and10 News photojournalist, first developed an iPhone app for his "Local Edition" TV news show that formerly aired on Charter cable.

"9and10 saw that and approached me about the possibility of writing one for them," says Wotila. "We added a bunch of features, like a link to Facebook and Twitter, the ability to take video or photos and send them directly to the newsroom, and much more."

Wotila and the local CBS affiliate launched the free, new app last August, and has seen more than 5,000 people download it via iTunes.

That success -- along with the sales experience of 9and10's staff and Wotila's status as an Apple-approved app developer -- prompted them to form a joint venture, News on iPhone, to sell iPhone apps to TV stations and businesses nationwide.

Wotila also developed a few recipe apps called "Cooking with Chef Herman," featuring the longtime Wexford County chef. Those apps cost 99 cents and are for sale on iTunes.

Jon Roth, owner of TC-based Bright Bridge Productions, is in the middle of developing his first app. "It's a social networking app, but we're not ready to reveal any details about it, as we're building it on spec. Once we have this one under our belts, then we'll be into developing some for clients, including some joint ventures," he reports.

Century 21 Northland's Jason Kudary is one of several area realtors who was offered a free app compliments of his web provider, a national company.

"It allows anyone to search the whole MLS for any property listings. Anytime I see someone with an iPhone, I tell them to check out my app!"

Like Kudary, rock radio station WKLT had an app developed by their existing web provider.

"Our hope is that people will download it and especially use one of the special features - the alarm function to wake up to Omelette & Finster, our morning show, on their iPhone," says GM Charlie Ferguson.

So is an app right for you and your business? Wotila says they're ideal for anyone who has a need to publish updates or tools to the web frequently. He says costs from his company start at $3,000.  Roth adds, "I'm seeing that simple apps can be inexpensive to produce and you can take the complexity and sophistication right up into the hundred thousand dollar range."

Does The Ticker need an app or is old-fashioned email good enough? And what would you like to see a Ticker app deliver? Drop us a line here.