Conquer Mobile

Conquer Mobile Featured in MacLean’s

tobias — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:53:24 +0000

Apple wants the iPad to be the next must-have business tool. That means developing more business apps, and taking on RIM

After only two years in the market, Apple’s iPad has been a remarkable success, cornering 68 per cent of the global tablet market, with 11.8 million units sold in the first quarter of 2012 alone. But to really secure its place as the king of tablets—and to prove its device is more than just a consumer toy for Web browsing and playing games—Apple is planning to conquer one final frontier: the business world.

The company has launched an aggressive global campaign to lure developers into building more business applications for the iPad. One of the centres of this push is Vancouver, home to a thriving community of software companies that have created successful consumer apps for Apple’s iOS platform, used on the iPhone and iPad. Apple is organizing regular developer meet-ups in the city with thousands of participants and inviting software companies to showcase their business apps to sales staff at Apple stores.

Angela Robert is CEO of Vancouver-based Conquer Mobile, one of the companies that is now focusing solely on developing business apps for the iPad, like Colligo Briefcase, which helps view, share, and edit content in a secure environment. Robert says she’s never seen Apple come after developers so aggressively. (With consumer apps, it was usually developers courting Apple.) She says the current offering of business apps is, so far, insufficient to convince company decision-makers that they need iPads. “It’s just like [Apple] did with the iPhones,” says Robert. “People bought iPhones only after they saw all they could do with apps.”

About 90 per cent of all apps in the iTunes store are consumer apps, such as magazines and video games. For Apple to break into the enterprise world, there needs to be thousands more applications designed with businesses in mind. “There’s a lot to be done by Apple and the developers,” says Kevin Restivo, a senior mobile industry analyst at International DataCorporation in Toronto. He thinks business apps that will change the game for iPad have not been invented yet. Apple offers a line of productivity software on the iPad, called iWork, though big-name business software products and custom software designed to run complex systems like inventory management aren’t widely available. “There are a lot of glorified calculators out there,” says Restivo.

Developers like Robert dream of workers on oil rigs armed with iPads, checking on machinery and reporting back in real time to managers using video and live data; or executives bringing their iPads to meetings already loaded with company financials rather than with bulky printouts. Apps developed by Vancouver companies already in the market include FusionPipe, a secure cloud computing system that allows employees to access corporate resources from virtual servers; and the popular HootSuite, a social media management system for businesses and organizations to collaboratively organize campaigns across multiple social networks.

Apple’s new-found enthusiasm for the enterprise market could be a troubling development for Canada’s Research In Motion, whose market share has been plummeting and whose tablet, the PlayBook, has been a flop thus far. Apple is threatening to erode RIM’s last foothold, the business market, which it once dominated. RIM is by no means giving up its turf easily. The company is set to unveil a new version of the PlayBook later this year, and it is also courting software firms to fill its own app store with offerings for businesses. It has told developers they will earn $10,000 in their first year on the app store. If they fall short RIM will pay them the balance.

Robert is convinced that Apple, and companies like her own, are standing at the doorstep of a major boom in business apps. A report released by Deloitte this year noted the “app economy” will be worth $2 billion by 2015 in the U.S. “More and more companies are asking software developers to create apps for them,” she says. “As they see their competitors starting to come up with their own apps, they’re starting to wonder, ‘Do I need an app?’ ” Major companies like Accenture, SAP and IBM have started commissioning business apps so that they, in turn, may offer mobile solutions to the large organizations they already offer services to.

It’s not just big corporations that could be giving out iPads to their employees. Jim Secord is the CEO of Vancouver-based Kashoo, which makes an app for small businesses called Kashoo Accounting. It helps people track expenses, send invoices and create financial reports. “The iPad is ideally suited for small businesses,” he says, because it’s portable, user-friendly, and inexpensive. The iPad’s portability is key because it is liberating business owners, who usually have to run errands throughout the day, from having to return to their ofﬁce or home to do paperwork.

There is still plenty of room for growth. Analysts like Restivo think Apple has yet to evolve from consumer-targeted apps, and are skeptical about how fast and effective this push int

o the business world will be. Some believe RIM could maintain its hold. Despite a difficult year, it still has long-standing relationships with business clients, while Apple is only getting started.

Restivo thinks Apple’s move into the enterprise market does present a threat to RIM, but says we’re still in the early stages of the race. “There will be a winner in the enterprise world when it comes to tablet adoption,” he says, “and Apple is jumping over the first hurdle of that race right now, placing it very much in first place.” And Secord, Kashoo’s CEO, believes Apple has a well-calculated game plan for its iPad and business apps. “All along,” he says, “Apple knew this is where they wanted to go.”

Source: MacLean’s

Angela Robert to Speak on BCTIA Mobile Panel

Helen — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:32:33 +0000

Conquer Mobile CEO Angela Robert, will be speaking on a BCTIA product management panel on December 7. The topic is: ‘Innovation in Product Management from the World of Mobile App Development & Marketing.’ Angela will speak alongside Jeff Sinclair of Xomo and other leaders from the Vancouver Mobile sector.

Registration and details can be found here http://www.regonline.ca/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1025290

Global TV features Aaron Hilton of Conquer Mobile

Helen — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 23:25:06 +0000

Aaron Hilton, CTO of Conquer Mobile was recently interviewed in the Global TV Generation HOW series.

The Global TV series Generation HOW? ranges in topics from looking at which industries are in desperate need of people, to how companies are getting creative to attract and keep young workers, the employment landscape in our province is always changing.

Part One: Why is Vancouver not a major centre of the high-tech world when new software companies are popping up all the time?

Watch: http://www.globaltvbc.com/generation+how/6442507431/story.html

Wavefront’s first tenant, Conquer Mobile, locates success with mobile search and directory apps

admin — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 20:48:53 +0000

Conquer Mobile achieved 10 times revenue growth and released more than 20 apps while at Wavefront, with customers ranging from Canpages to McDonald’s Canada

VANCOUVER, B.C., April 5, 2011 – Conquer Mobile, a leading developer of mobile search applications for business directories and major retail brands, experienced phenomenal growth during its 21 months at Wavefront, the commercialization centre accelerating the growth of Canada’s wireless and new media development companies. Its revenues grew by a factor of 10 during that period, and as of February, the company has moved into a larger space at Discovery Parks Vancouver where it is poised to expand its successful app development business and enter a new stage of growth developing innovative products of its own, including an exciting new solution for the mobile business directory market that Conquer Mobile plans to launch later this year.

Conquer Mobile had two customers, one mobile application and cramped offices above a florist in May 2009 when it made the decision to become Wavefront’s first tenant. Although Conquer Mobile was already demonstrating early leadership in mobile mapping solutions, CEO, Angela Robert, and CTO, Aaron Hilton, knew that they needed more professional offices, help with market linkages, resources such as handset library and usability services to test their applications, and access to trusted, experienced business advisory services—all of which they received at Wavefront.

Conquer Mobile took advantage of every Wavefront wireless accelerator service. They used Wavefront’s business advisory services to help with go-to-market strategies and managing growth as well as its state-of-the-art boardroom for client meetings. The 400-plus handsets in Wavefront’s library allowed Conquer Mobile to quickly and cost-effectively develop cross-platform solutions for iPhone, BlackBerry, Android and more. They connected for mentoring with seasoned wireless technology executive Bill Tam made available through Wavefront’s partnership with the Centre4Growth’s CEO in Residence (CIR) program. With Wavefront hosting meetup space and co-organizing monthly collaborative events, the Conquer Mobile team helped grow the fledgling Vancouver iPhone Developer Meetup Group from a few dozen members to over 600. Perhaps the largest benefit Conquer Mobile received from Wavefront was the casual connections with potential customers made possible in the unique Wavefront setting. It was through such a connection that Conquer Mobile was ultimately chosen to develop McDonalds’ Canada restaurant locator iPhone app.

Sandy Fleischer, senior vice-president and managing partner of Dare said, “The iPhone app for McDonald’s had to be powerful for the brand, yet simple for the customer. Conquer Mobile were the ideal partners. They are mobile app mavens–able to deliver awesome technology in simple wrapping.”

While at Wavefront, Conquer Mobile also released 20 directory-based mobile apps for Canpages, Ziplocal, ImmersiFind, ChicWalks, Park Royal Shopping Centre and the Globe 2010 conference among others. Its award-winning Canpages iPhone app was the first voice-recognition business search app to launch in Canada including great features such as ‘hands-free’ search for nearby businesses, live traffic cams and augmented reality views.

“Mobile users expect ʻwowʼ and simplicity. The Canpages iPhone app has both cutting-edge technology and a deliciously simple interface. Conquer Mobile has mastered the art of combining the two,” said John Koetsier, senior manager, online media, Canpages.

“We’ll continue to develop and support custom mobile apps for our business directory customers but we’re also excited to be launching our first Conquer Mobile branded application,” explained Conquer Mobile CEO Robert. “We’re keeping the product under wraps for now, but it will be a solution for mobile directory operators that will dramatically increase the visibility, credibility and customer loyalty for directory advertisers.”

“Wavefront is very pleased with Conquer Mobile’s growth and successes,” said James Maynard, President of Wavefront. “We look forward to watching more companies graduate Wavefront’s Accelerator Centre and, as we expand the Wavefront model, helping more Canadian wireless innovators successfully bring their solutions to market faster.”

For more on Conquer Mobile, see www.conquermobile.com.

ABOUT WAVEFRONT

Wavefront is the national centre of excellence for wireless commercialization accelerating the growth and success of wireless companies in Canada. Wavefront improves speed-to-market and delivery of mobile applications and wireless technologies by providing emerging companies with a suite of WaveGuide™ training, mobile industry advisory services, incubation services, testing resources and market linkages that facilitate commercial engagement with the mobile network and enterprise ecosystem companies around the world. Learn more at www.wavefrontac.com.

Wavefront is a registered trademark of Wavefront Wireless Innovation Society of British Columbia.

Wavefront Contact:

Patty Lee, 778-331-7474, pr@wavefrontac.com

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admin — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 05:19:21 +0000

McDonald’s

scott — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 19:18:46 +0000

Customer Challenge

McDonald’s Canada had two clear goals for their Restaurant Locator iPhone app. First, to make it easier for on-the-go customers to find their nearest restaurant. Second, to increase customer engagement by communicating targeted, location-based promotions directly to loyal mobile customers.

Solution

Dare teamed up with Conquer Mobile to create the official McDonald’s Canada Restaurant Locator iPhone app.

Canadian customers can now quickly find their the nearest McDonald’s restaurant based on their current location. They can filter the results based on the presence of a Play Place, 24-hour locations, or restaurants with a Drive-Thru. Customers can also search by city, postal code or address and can view maps, directions, hours and contact details.

McDonald’s is also able to draw customers in and increase customer engagement by targeting promotions based on a customer’s location and time of day. Customers can view all relevant promotions within the app, select those that grab their attention and then browse to explore the offer and get coupons.

Conquer Mobile’s expertise in business search, mapping, and augmented reality for mobile apps was ideal for this project. Conquer Mobile collaborated closely with the team at Dare to create the iPhone app on budget and on time. The result is an iPhone app that meets McDonald’s Canada’s two key business goals in a simple, accessible style.

Impact

The official McDonald’s Canada Restaurant Locator iPhone app was released on target in June 2010
The app represents the brand across Canada and features all major restaurant promotions
The app is localized into French and English and is available on the Apple App Store

Canpages

admin — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 20:43:48 +0000

Customer Challenge

CanPages wanted to empower consumers to find local businesses on-the-go. The vision was to give mobile users ‘hands-free’ search on their iPhones and help connect local businesses and consumers.

Solution

Canpages engaged Conquer Mobile to create a voice-powered business search app, a first for Canada in 2008. They wanted to free their users from grappling with text input, speed up the process and make the results more accessible.
Conquer Mobile integrated a powerful voice-recognition interface. Users simply speak their search request into the phone rather than type it, and view the results on-screen. If a location is not specified, results will show the ‘nearest’ businesses, using the device’s built-in GPS functionality.
To hone the search, users are able to view results on a map, get directions, view the company’s website, photos and videos and phone a business directly from the app. iPhone users can even check live traffic cams and there’s augmented reality where users point the phone and see business information overlaid on the cityscape.

Impact

A flagship app for CanPages and a key extension of the Canpages local search platform canpages.ca
Recognized as an industry first for Canada
Shot to number one in the iTunes reference category for eight weeks
Recognized by the Wireless Innovation Network of BC (WinBC) with the Most Innovative Wireless Service Award for the iPhone app

Ziplocal

scott — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 19:20:06 +0000

Customer Challenge

Ziplocal, a US local search company, is focused on providing a fresh, innovative approach to search at the neighborhood and city-wide level. With a new and very experienced CEO at the helm, the vision was to bring a rich and engaging experience to mobile users too. Ziplocal wanted not only to make search easier, but also to bring fresh, inspiring and ground-breaking capabilities to users on-the-go.

Solution

Ziplocal asked Conquer Mobile to create a speech driven search application for the iPhone and iPad. Conquer Mobile responded with a powerful yet intuitive voice-powered app. Users simply tap the screen to speak, tap when they’ve finished and see their results in seconds – in a list or on a map.

The app needed to be highly versatile – to fit the many different ways that people like to search for information on-the-fly. Some people are looking for a specific business and need directions, maps and traffic cams to identify the fastest route. To save time, users can tag favorite businesses, friends or traffic cams. A ‘Recent’ list also saves time by enabling a quick repeat of previous searches. Reverse look-up is also speech-driven.

Other people simply want to find their nearest ATM, car park or sushi bar. ‘Nearby’ search does that, enabling users to pick a category and see what their nearest choices are. For instance, selecting ‘sushi’ will show all the options in the vicinity. Users can then view maps, photos and videos to narrow the choice and phone direct to make a booking.

Finally, some people simply want to see what is available right on their doorstep. This is where the augmented reality eye comes into its own. Users just point the camera in any direction while searching and get a cityscape view with listing details overlaid.

By understanding the very different ways that people like to search for information, the Ziplocal app achieved its goal. Now Ziplocal users have a cutting edge mobile app to find exactly what they are looking for close-by.

Impact

A key component of Ziplocal’s mobile offering, bringing fresh, rich and relevant local content to mobile users.
Highly rated on iTunes and well received by Ziplocal customers – iPhone and iPad versions available.

Shop Park Royal

scott — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 19:17:08 +0000

Shop Park Royal is the information source for all things shopping related at one of Vancouver's premier shopping destinations, Park Royal Shopping Centre in West Vancouver Read more...

Van iDevs

scott — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 18:53:46 +0000

The official up-to-date, news and events portal for Vancouver area based developers, developing applications for iPhone and iPad. Read more...