Nanonation jumps on iPad buzz, starts developing to it
January 27, 2010 by Dave Haynes
There were two kinds of technology companies issuing press releases today.
Goofball ones that were somehow oblivious to Apple’s planned announcement, and thought it was just another day and their stuff would get the usual attention. And those who watched the announcement of the iPad and realized there was excitement to leverage, and put together their own announcement.
Now just about anyone in digital signage making an announcement that somehow tied in to the iPad would be regarded with giggles, but Nanonation is one of only a few companies in the space that actually have some genuine Apple ties, history and chops, so to speak.
In the hours after the celebrated tablet was announced, Nanonation issued a release saying its propellerheads were all over this thing.
Software developer Nanonation announced plans to support and develop new customer-facing applications utilizing Apple’s latest iPad product platform. Nanonation has had a long history of developing innovative and engaging enterprise applications for leading brands worldwide. Building on its past development efforts with the iPhone, iMac, Apple TV, and other Apple technologies, Nanonation’s team of developers will be responsible for creating new customer and employee-facing applications. Applications would be targeted at retailers who want to provide customers with dynamic information, promotions, and loyalty solutions, as well as targeted applications for employees such as on-demand training and sales assistant information.
“Apple iPad’s rich multi-touch user interface, large screen, WiFi and 3G connectivity, and attractive price point make it an ideal platform for a number of in-store and back-of-house applications designed to enhance, engage, and excite customers,” said Brian Ardinger, Chief Marketing Officer for Nanonation. “The iPad expands the application possibilities from what we’ve currently been developing for the iPhone and gives our clients more flexibility and options for creating innovative and intelligent ways to impact their business.”
The addition of the iPad further expands the continuum of devices and technologies Nanonation utilizes to seamlessly create and manage customer experiences across an enterprise. Nanonation’s clients in retail, hospitality, and financial services will be able to offer a variety of unique customer engagement points with a common platform for management and control.
Assuming the gadget is released in March, Nano plans to show off its iPad integration at Kioskcom in April. Undoubtedly, there’s some pretty-pretty please stuff happening to try and get one for DSE. THAT might even attract more nerds than a sweet young thing in a micro-dress, the usual tech show booth magnet for some companies (not Nano).
From what I have read of the iPad announcement, iPhone apps jump devices seamlessly over to the tablet, so it’s no stretch to already do development to this new gadget. Developers could monkey around for the next few weeks on an iPhone and just do the early port when the devices come on the market in March, and then tweak. This offers more screen real estate and a bigger engine under the hood.
The question for Nano and other companies who undoubtedly watched the announcement with interest is how what our sector does applies to this device. I kinda shrugged when I saw the iPhone for the first time, so I am no visionary. But I could certainly see how this sort of device could help retailers.
I have a guy, for example, I want to make a retail client, who is looking around for a small but sexy screen to put at the shelf-edge in stores. The thing needs to be slim. Not too big a screen. Ideally it’s interactive. Wi-fi networked. Vibrant visuals. Can’t be more than $500. Hmmmm….
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