I think the cost of getting an iPhone app developed really depends on what you want it to do. Sure if you want a fancy app with all the 'bells and whistles' you can easily spend 30k. However, if you're like most organizations and don't have that kind of cash, there are much more cost effective ways to get an iPhone app up and running by developing an app around existing social technologies. The kind of iPhone model I am promoting can utilize Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogs, RSS podcasts, which all offer this functionality and there is no need for custom coding or databases, subsequently reducing the barrier of entry for museums to develop iPhone apps --this is what 'social media' is all about. Here is a short YouTube video I made demonstrating this iPhone model: http://bit.ly/9obYip
I just think it's silly to spend a lot of money when it's not neccessary --just my opinion but save some money and ride the iPhone app craze while it lasts. Thank you for all the input from everyone. Kurt Stuchell http://museumpods.com Proctor, Nancy wrote: >I agree with Stephanie. Just yesterday I came across another company offering >this model in which the app & CMS are free to the museum, and revenue is >shared between the provider and museum on app or tour sales. That brings my >count to 4 that I'm aware of for sure: > > > 1. Toura > 2. uGuideMe > 3. MyToursApp > 4. Artful from CultureLabel > >There are a couple more that seem willing to consider this model: > > > * Spotlight Mobile > * Tristan Interactive > >And then there are the opensource solutions already being developed and >deployed, most notably by the Dallas Museum of Art and the IMA. You can check >them out on the Museum Mobile wiki: http://wiki.MuseumMobile.info > >The important thing is to do your homework and be aware of what's available on >the market already before dropping money to reinvent the wheel. It may be that >your needs are so specific you do need a bespoke-build app, in which case $30k >seems to be in the ballpark of going rates (I've heard quotes from $10-40k), >and there are many accomplished app developers out there who can help you. > >Also consider opportunity cost: it does take someone's time to design the >mobile experience, prepare assets and put them into an app, no matter how >user-friendly the CMS is (and hopefully it's database driven to a large extent >so it's possible to mass-import content as well, rather than assemble every >tour by hand). > >Of course, the biggest expense of all is creating quality content that >facilitates the experience your target audience needs. That's where I'd >prioritize the investment, because without good content, it doesn't matter how >technically slick your app is - the mobile experience will still fail. > >Nancy >-- >Nancy Proctor, PhD >Head of New Media Initiatives >Smithsonian American Art Museum >MRC 970 PO Box 37012 >Washington DC 20013-7012 >USA > >t: +1-202-633-8439 >c: +1-301-642-6257 >f: +1-202-633-8455 > >http://www.americanart.si.edu >http://eyelevel.si.edu/ > >On 3/9/10 3:00 PM, "mcn-l-request at mcn.edu" <mcn-l-request at mcn.edu> wrote: > >Message: 1 >Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 09:31:07 -0800 >From: Stephanie Weaver <sweaver at experienceology.com> >Subject: [MCN-L] iPhone app discussion >To: mcn-l at mcn.edu >Message-ID: <B0BC3367-965C-4769-BB4A-DD4F7439FE8B at experienceology.com> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed; >delsp=yes > >Kurt, >I go to many different conferences, and at each one in the last 18 >months I have met 1-2 companies who are creating a platform for apps >(some iPhone only, some smartphone). > >Nearly all of them are offering the platform for free, meaning: they >are giving the museums access to their CMS platform, and the museums >are supposed to create/upload the content from existing digital assets. > >They are all doing some kind of revenue share on the app sales. I >don't know if/when this business model will be sustainable. I am also >a bit skeptical that small to mid-size museums will have the staffing >to find/format/create the content for the app. So, you could charge >for that portion of the service. > >The ones I don't think will work are the guys who want $30K up front >to create the app for the museum. Especially when folks like IMA are >about to open source their platforms. > >I think there will always be a place in the liaison role where you can >and should charge for your expertise. Maybe on a sliding scale. > >Hope this helps! > >Best, > >Stephanie Weaver >Visitor experience consultant >experienceology?: Because happy visitors return. >San Diego, CA > > > >_______________________________________________ >You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer >Network (http://www.mcn.edu) > >To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu > >To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: >http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l > >The MCN-L archives can be found at: >http://toronto.mediatrope.com/pipermail/mcn-l/ > > >
