March « 2010 « AirKast, Inc.

AirKast, Inc. and iTMP Technology, Inc. Win MobileApp Challenge at Andrew Seybold’s Wireless University

March 31, 2010

AirKast, Inc. and iTMP Technology, Inc. Win MobileApp Challenge
at Andrew Seybold’s Wireless University

SANTA BARBARA, California, March 31, 2010 – iTMP Technology, Inc. and AirKast, Inc. were the winners of the Consumer and Developer categories, respectively, in the MobileApp Challenge at Andrew Seybold’s Wireless University in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 22, it was announced today by Andrew Seybold. Entrants each presented three-to-five minute demonstrations of their products, with the audience selecting the winners.

“This competition is about inspiring and recognizing innovation,” Andrew Seybold said. “In doing so, it turns the spotlight on some unique characteristics of the wireless industry. For one, both established companies and newcomers can play on equal terms. For another, the diverse nature of this year’s entries demonstrates the abundance of opportunities in the field that are just waiting to be discovered, nurtured and taken to market.”

AirKast’s TuneKast is a hosted application that enables radio broadcasters to reach consumers with streaming audio and interactive multimedia content such as in-app ads and event promotions via the World Wide Web. Running on the AirKast hosted platform, TuneKast enables broadcasters to display and change relevant graphic content on the screen as their audio programming is playing. Users access stations using their device’s on-screen display icons and, from the TuneKast screen, they are further able to refine their listening experiences with buttons that are broadcaster-definable.

iTMP Technology’s Digifit Ecosystem is a suite of health and fitness apps that enable the iPhone and iPod touch to double as heart rate monitors and cyclometers. According to the company, they are the only apps that listen to the heart, which they consider fundamental to tracking cardio exercise. A wireless bridge enables data flow from ultra-low power sensors to the mobile devices. The first-generation SMHEART LINK™ bridge used Wi-Fi but the new Digifit™ Connect receiver uses the iPhone’s serial port. Further build-outs are planned, including a foot pod similar to Nike+ but non-proprietary.

The Andrew Seybold Wireless University is an all-day symposium held twice-yearly in conjunction with the CTIA trade shows. It focuses on issues facing wireless mobility by examining its key elements – applications, content, devices, and technologies.

About Andrew Seybold, Inc.

Andrew Seybold, Inc. is dedicated to solving client challenges through strategic consulting, client-specific research and analysis, publications, speaking engagements and educational programs. Company founder Andrew M. Seybold and his partners provide deep technology and business expertise, proven best practices and long-established relationships with industry leaders. Mr. Seybold is highly regarded for his COMMENTARY e-newsletter and the Andrew Seybold Wireless University. For more information, visit www.andrewseybold.com.

AirKast Granted Two Key Mobile Awards at the International CTIA Wireless 2010 Conference

March 31, 2010

AirKast Awarded Best Java & BlackBerry App from AT&T Developer Program and Best iPhone Digital Content & Advertising App from Andrew Seybold Wireless University

Cupertino, CA (Business Wire) – March 31, 2010 – AirKast, the leader in digital content and advertising solutions, announced today that it received two significant awards at the International CTIA Wireless 2010 Conference for its multi-platform solutions, AirBridge and TuneKast. In the AT&T Developer Program Open Call – Apps for All! Contest, the company’s AirBridge/TuneKast solution was named the winner of the Java & BlackBerry category over 29 other finalists. The Andrew Seybold Wireless University MobileApp Challenge named TuneKast, the company’s mobile application framework for radio broadcasters, the best iPhone digital content and advertising application.

“We’re extremely honored to be recognized in such significant ways by these two organizations,” said Larry Leung, chief executive officer for AirKast, Inc. “These awards validate that the market needs multimedia-rich and feature-robust mobile solutions that benefit consumers and sponsors as well as content publishers. We applaud AT&T and Andy Seybold for acknowledging the hard work and innovation mobile developers apply to their solutions to help drive this market.”

The AT&T annual mobile application contest provides mobile developers a unique opportunity to pitch cutting -edge apps, content and games to AT&T. The contest is designed to recognize the innovation, creativity and skill of the mobile development community. Judging panels consist of AT&T business decision makers and industry partners, and applications are judged on innovation and originality, marketability, ease of use and user interface design. Of more than 360 applications submitted in four categories, 120 finalists were chosen to present at CTIA and AirKast was named the Java & BlackBerry category winner at the awards reception.

The Andrew Seybold Wireless University is held twice-yearly in conjunction with the CTIA trade shows. It focuses on issues facing wireless mobility by examining its key elements – applications, content, devices and technologies. The MobileApp Challenge is designed to showcase innovative applications that provide a unique look into the future of blended services, data and applications. TuneKast was named best digital content and advertising application at the awards dinner.

“This competition is about inspiring and recognizing innovation,” Andrew Seybold said. “In doing so, it turns the spotlight on some unique characteristics of the wireless industry. For one, both established companies and newcomers can play. AirKast is an excellent example, having launched as a company and a product only in 2009 and already achieving success in its chosen sector. For another, the diversity of this year’s entries demonstrates the abundance of opportunities in the field that are just waiting to be discovered, nurtured and taken to market.”

AirBridge, the industry’s first hosted digital media delivery platform, is used to build enterprise-class mobile applications that are reliable, secure and scalable so companies can target large audiences that require simultaneous access. AirBridge currently supports market-leading mobile devices, including iPhone, BlackBerry (all models including Storm) and Android. Designed for terrestrial and Internet-based radio stations, TuneKast is a mobile application framework that features real-time digital media and online content within branded mobile applications. Used by 850+ popular terrestrial and Internet-based radio stations, TuneKast, together with AirBridge, helps radio stations increase their digital content distribution to attract sponsors and advertisers. Each TuneKast application is “dynamically brand-able” so stations can change sponsor information and the look-and-feel in real-time without performing application updates. Now, stations can offer advertisers and sponsors value-added services and capabilities, such as location-based targeting, pre-roll video capabilities, clickable ads, loyalty programs and premium content features, to continually interest and retain audiences.

About AirKast, Inc.

AirKast, Inc. is a leading provider of digital content and advertising enterprise-class solutions that extend and enhance real-time digital media and online content to mobile and consumer electronic (CE) devices. AirKast customers include ABC as well as popular terrestrial stations from Greater Media, Alpha Broadcasting, Citadel Broadcasting and NextMedia, Inc. AirKast is headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley with an office strategically located in New York City. For more information about AirKast and its solutions, visit www.airkast.com.

Hear 2.0: Mark Ramsey’s Interview with AirKast CEO Larry Leung

March 28, 2010

A New – and Easier – Way to Take your Station’s Content Mobile

When is an app more than an app? When it’s a platform. And especially when it’s a “dynamically brandable” platform.

Larry Leung is the CEO of AirKast, which has created a very popular mobile development app for radio stations. With more than 900 terrestrial stations on the platform and hundreds more in the pipeline, it’s called TuneKast and you can find TuneKast-branded applications in the App Store on iTunes today

Listen to my chat with Larry about AirKast’s new Airbridge platform, Radio’s first hosted digital media delivery platform used to build enterprise-class applications for mobile and connected devices.

Click to listen: Hear 2.0

AirKast Announces AirBridge Digital Media Delivery Platform with Geolocation Capabilities and Android Support

March 23, 2010

Company Also Launches Customized Mobile Apps for NextMedia, Results Radio and Aritaur Radio Stations

CTIA WIRELESS CONFERENCE 2010, Las Vegas, NV (Business Wire) – March 23, 2009 – AirKast, the leader in digital content and advertising solutions, announced today the general availability of its AirBridge digital media delivery platform that now offers geolocation capabilities and support for Android mobile devices. In addition, the company launched branded and customized mobile applications for radio stations owned by NextMedia, Inc., Results Radio and Aritaur Communciations to deliver streaming live radio content to their listeners.

NextMedia (www.nextmediagroup.com) owns and operates 42 radio stations in 12 rated and suburban markets along with outdoor advertising properties in large and mid-sized markets throughout the U.S. “We chose AirBridge because its interactive capabilities allow us to capture and maintain audience interest using each station’s unique content,” said Brian Foster, vice president of new media for NextMedia. “Since AirKast handles all of the hosting and technical details, we can remain focused on our business objectives.”

Applications powered by AirBridge are reliable, secure and scalable so companies can target large audiences via mobile and consumer devices. AirBridge is a hosted environment comprised of a broad set of built-in interactive capabilities that allows branded applications to be brought to market quickly, so companies can focus on developing competitive advantages instead of technical and infrastructure issues. AirBridge currently supports market-leading mobile devices, including iPhone, BlackBerry (all models including Storm) and now Android. For the radio broadcasting industry, AirBridge is fully integrated with leading ad insertion and metric measurement firms and digital services providers, such as Ando Media, Triton Digital Media, StreamTheWorld and Liquid Compass.
“I’ve worked with many application developers over the years and my interaction with AirKast was the easiest ever,” said Gary Guthrie, CMO for Aritaur Communications Inc. and mvyradio.com. “The clarity of purpose coupled with their intuition for the opportunity were spot-on. One of the best advantages is the snap-second customization available for creating message graphics. Within 10 minutes, we’re designing opening screens and banners to distribute our message to thousands of listeners who might not otherwise see them without visiting our website.” Aritaur Communications owns mvyradio, an alternative-style Internet radio station.
The branded radio mobile applications, containing real-time digital media and online content, were developed using TuneKast, a mobile application framework designed for terrestrial and Internet-based radio stations. TuneKast, together with AirBridge, gives radio stations numerous opportunities to increase the distribution of their content in order to attract sponsors and advertisers. Each TuneKast application is “dynamically brand-able” which means that stations can change sponsor information as well as the application’s look-and-feel in real-time without performing application updates. Additionally, stations can give advertisers and sponsors access to value-added services and capabilities, such as location-based targeting, pre-roll video capabilities and clickable ads to continually interest audiences.

“Two months with AirKast and we’re delighted,” said Dave Shakes, chief programming officer for Results Radio, LLC. “In this short time, our Adult Hits (Bob-FM Chico) and Active Rock (ZRock Chico) iPhone and Blackberry apps have been downloaded by a number that is equivalent to nearly 20% of their Arbitron cume listenerships! In addition, those station session-starts increased nearly 50% from when the stream was only available online.”

Used by more than 850 of the nation’s most popular terrestrial radio stations, TuneKast offers many ways to encourage active listener participation, such as loyalty programs and premium content features. TuneKast applications are seamlessly integrated with Ando Media’s market-leading ad trafficking and metrics measurement system. This combination gives stations the power to monetize their digital media and online content for mobile devices, while monitoring and measuring in real-time audience and ad campaign performances from numerous forms of advertising and sponsorships.

AirKast now offers geolocation-based in-app advertising capabilities for advertisers and brands through the AirBridge platform. AirKast is the only company to offer advertisers and brands a choreographed combination of audio and rich media ads based on a user’s location. For example, a man is walking near a brick-and-mortar REI store while listening to his favorite radio station on his mobile device. The listener can hear an audio ad for REI and, at the same time, receive a multimedia-rich video or interactive graphical ad for REI, both via his mobile device. This geolocation-targeting provides broadcasting advertisers with additional opportunities to attract customers.

About AirKast, Inc.

AirKast Announces New Mobile Application Solution for Content Publishers

March 23, 2010

ChannelKast Helps Publishers Create Dedicated, Interactive and Branded Channels on Mobile and Connected Devices

CTIA WIRELESS CONFERENCE 2010, Las Vegas, NV (Business Wire) – March 23, 2009 – AirKast, the leader in digital content and advertising solutions, today announced a new mobile application solution for content publishers. This new solution includes the ChannelKast mobile application framework which delivers highly interactive experiences and provides numerous opportunities for content publishers to extend their reach beyond traditional mediums by creating their own dedicated, interactive and branded channels on mobile and connected devices.

“ChannelKast lets content publishers, such as news, sports and entertainment, quickly and easily distribute their multimedia-rich content in real time,” said Diane Robinette, vice president of marketing for AirKast, Inc. “The key is being able to offer highly interactive experiences that draw and build relationships with mobile audiences while offering advertisers and sponsors new ways of reaching those same audiences.”

The ChannelKast mobile application framework, together with AirBridge, brings together multimedia-rich content, such as streaming videos, streaming audio and text, in ways that can be interacted with by mobile audiences. AirKast applications are “dynamically brand-able” which means that publishers can update and change their content quickly and easily while retaining their branded look-and-feel. Publishers have full control over content, including advertising and sponsor information, delivered to mobile devices. Publisher content can also be integrated with related 3rd party content sources, such as weather and social networking sites, and in-app purchasing capabilities. Finally, ChannelKast offers publishers creative ways to facilitate user acquisition and retention, such as implementing loyalty programs.

About AirBridge

AirBridge is the industry’s first hosted digital media delivery platform used to build enterprise-class applications for mobile and connected devices that are reliable, secure and scalable so companies can target large audiences needing simultaneous access. AirBridge is comprised of a broad set of built-in interactive capabilities that allows branded applications to be brought to market quickly, so companies can focus on developing competitive advantages instead of technical and infrastructure issues. AirBridge offers geolocation-based capabilities, so advertisers and brands can choreograph a combination of audio and rich media ads based on a user’s location. AirBridge currently supports market-leading mobile devices, including iPhone, BlackBerry (all models including Storm) and Android.

About AirKast, Inc.

AirKast, Inc. is the leading provider of digital content and advertising enterprise-class solutions that extend and enhance real-time digital media and online content to mobile and consumer electronic (CE) devices. AirKast customers include ABC well as popular terrestrial stations from Greater Media, Alpha Broadcasting, Citadel Broadcasting and NextMedia, Inc. AirKast is headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley with an office strategically located in New York City. For more information about AirKast and its solutions, visit www.airkast.com.