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IndieBound for iPhone Brings Independent Bookselling Into Mobile Universe
April 20, 2009
 With
the launch of the IndieBound
app for iPhone on Monday, April 20, independent booksellers are boldly going
where they've never gone before: the rapidly growing realm of mobile applications.
Apple's App Store is nearing one billion downloads, and now independent booksellers
can get in on the action. IndieBound for iPhone spotlights three of IndieBound.org's
most popular features: bookseller recommendations, book search, and the Indie
Store Finder.
"The IndieBound
iPhone app puts independent booksellers' vast handselling knowledge directly
into the hands of an enormous audience," noted ABA COO Oren Teicher. "We're
tremendously excited to be able to call attention to the expertise of independent
booksellers in this new way."
Within minutes of the app's release, a
flurry of posts on Twitter announced it to a wide audience.
"Developing the app had been a fun side-project of mine for months,"
said ABA's Matt Supko. "I love my iPhone, and I'm probably the first person
who wanted to see an app for indie booksellers there. My goals were to make an
app that was fast and fun to use, and to lay the groundwork for future growth."
Here are the app's key
features:
- Bookseller Recommendations :
Users can discover new books through the Indie Next List, Indie Bestsellers,
Kids' Indie Next List, and more. Each book includes a link to buy through
an e-commerce-capable bookstore
website or to locate a nearby independent bookstore.
- Book Search: IndieBound for iPhone includes a comprehensive
book search of over 3.5 million in-print titles, along with links to buy the
books from a nearby store.
- Indie Store Finder: Also included is a Store Finder that works
together with the iPhone's built-in GPS to show the user the closest indie
bookstores to them. Detailed information about the store is pulled in from
IndieBound.org, including website, phone number, and a link to the store on
Google Maps. Users can simply tap the phone number to call the store of their
choice. Bookstores are the default, but users can also search for other indie
businesses, like coffee shops, record stores, and bicycle dealers.
Future versions of IndieBound for iPhone will include ebook functionality, the
ability to set a favorite indie store for repeat purchases, and integration with
a user's IndieBound.org Wish List.
IndieBound for iPhone
is freely available to any iPhone or iPod Touch owner through Apple's App Store.
Let your customers know about the IndieBound for iPhone app! More information,
screenshots, and a link to download are available on IndieBound.org.Read this week's BTW follow-up on reaction to the new app.
Topics: News - Bookselling, IndieBound, Technology,
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