Furious Tribe Launch Revolutionary App Builder

June 2, 2010 · Posted in news · Comment 

Furious Tribe, a new company based in Media Cube in IADT, Dun Laoghaire, the digital and creative software incubation centre has just launched a revolutionary new “App Builder” platform called Apptivate.

This news comes as the global mobile market is tipped to grow to US$17.5bn.  Furious Tribe has plans to add iPad and Android support to Apptivate in the near future.

“With over 4.6bn mobile subscribers worldwide, the launch of Apptivate is a strategic move, that will position Furious Tribe as a leader within the European App market.” according to Patrick Leddy, MD of Furious Tribe.

Patrick Leddy had always had the entrepreneurial spirit.

“I started my first business when I was in Secondary School. I went to IADT and when I graduated, I moved the business I was working on, into the Media Cube”.

Martin Hogan, Manager of the Media Cube facility, commented that “Furious Tribe is joining the ranks of many successful companies who have been the centre. Companies like Customer Minds, Campbell Ryan Productions and ICAP Media who deliver the platform for 02s Treats application.”

Furious Tribe has already done well in the enterprise market acquiring accounts with O2 to Citibank, EMI Music, Royal Sun & Alliance, RTE and TV3.

“While we have always seen a strong demand in the enterprise market, the recent witnessed demand for mobile Apps in the SME market is unprecedented.” Leddy stated.

Apptivate provides a simple pay as you go service that allows brand managers to bypass their IT departments, and simply sign-up with the company credit card. The platform is completely self- contained with Furious Tribe managing the servers, technology & submission to Apple.

“Companies that adopt a mobile strategy in 2010 are well positioned to become leaders in 2011” according to Leddy

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Social Media Case Study 2 – O2 Conversing with Customers

March 31, 2009 · Posted in Guest Blogger, new technology, news, social media, Social Media Working Group, Web 2.0 · 3 Comments 

This is written by Campbell Scott of IGOPeople.com. All comments, queries and case study suggestions welcomed via comments below. Thanks! – RS, IIA.

Our previous case study gave an excellent overview of some of the social media tools that are available to businesses, including blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Bebo, Youtube etc. This case study is based on observations about how O2 Ireland have embraced the use of social media, to get closer to their customers (and potential customers). This summary records some of the interactions with customers that have taken place, some of these on IGOpeople.

O2 were well aware that their brand, products and services, pricing etc. were all being talked about online by their customers. These discussions were taking place on blogs, discussion forums and social networks. Many people would have posted comments which were negative in tone, complaining about specific problems or the way they had been treated by O2 as a customer. For O2, the challenge was how to engage or join in the conversations taking place. Many of the comments in discussion forums are anonymous, or take place in a tone and context where O2’s response or involvement in the discussion may not be particularly welcome.

A screengrab of the O2 discussion forum

A screengrab of the O2 discussion forum

O2’s answer to this problem was to take the brave move of creating their own, open user discussion forum, where customers could ask questions and seek help, voice their opinion or complain. Registration was a requirement, to help O2 get in touch with members privately if required. This was a very positive move which was received well by O2 customers. As this was new territory for O2, they did demonstrate some early naivety, by correcting the content of some members posts, but their customer community was tolerant of this, as it was a new environment where everyone was learning.

Although the O2 Forum has developed from these early days and is now a popular and active community, O2 have extended the range of social media tools they use to reach customers, including Bebo, Twitter and now IGOpeople (links take you directly to the O2 profile page). We’re delighted to have O2 as part of IGOpeople, but everyone can learn from some of the specific conversations they have become involved in.

A screengrab of O2's Twitstream

A screengrab of O2's Twitstream

O2 have jumped straight into IGOpeople, posting regularly about items of interest to their customers – promoting shiny new phones and new product releases. This week, they offered customers the opportunity to direct any questions they may have to the Head of Customer Care – not something that is available to a consumer every day of the week!

However, the thing that is impressed me about O2, is the willingness to reach out to customers. There are a number of conversations where they acknowledge their shortcomings and state how they will fix things up, or recognise the need to make changes in the future. Their answers don’t always give you the answer you might demand, but they are there to listen and consistently discuss the issue, in a really honest and believable way – even if the answer isn’t quite what you want.

Here are some nice examples of the conversations they get involved in

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What a week!

April 14, 2008 · Posted in blogging, news · 2 Comments 

I’m Roseanne Smith, the IIA’s new Membership, Marketing and Communications Manager. I started work with the IIA last Tuesday and it’s been full speed ahead since then.

With the Congress coming up in less than five weeks there has been a lot of interest in membership. It was particularly busy on Friday as our early bird offer closed so there was a desperate scramble to renew membership (Yes it is true: you are not alone although it gets lonelier by the day in the “Oops forgot to renew my membership” camp!) and to avail of the great offers. EUR195.00 for members – a bargain!*

I’ve also been dealing with a number of interesting queries from members and it occurred to me that it might be a good idea to post some of these queries in anonymised form here. I like to think I know a thing or two about this whole Internet business but unfortunately the queries happened to be about the other things about which I couldn’t claim expertise. Let me know what you think: how would you feel about your internet woes being the subject of discussion on this site. Leave a comment to let me know what you think.

And to finish some of you might be scratching your heads wondering where do I know her from so a lá Troy McClure from The Simpsons you might know me from:

  • Rathmines in Dublin where I grew up
  • Scoil Bhríde, Ranelagh and Muckross Park, Donnybrook where I went to school
  • Trinity College Dublin where I got a degree in Drama Studies and Modern Irish and a M.Sc. in Multimedia Systems
  • Too many stage productions to list as either cast or crew
  • (And now this is really McClure-esque) “Amú san Áis” starring Hector Ó hEochagáin – you may have seen my name in the roller on: I was the researcher
  • Gaelport.com: I’m a fluent Irish speaker and I was responsible for developing this community focussed site
  • I was a founding representative of The Legacy Group and the Community Sector Employers’ Forum on behalf of Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge
  • My personal blog which you may have happened upon
  • “Giotaí den saol” daily Irish language trivia snippets on a number of radio stations throughout the country.
  • Letters in the Irish Times because I’m always writing in and givin’ out
  • And if none of that rings any bells I went to Irish College in Rann na Feirste

I look forward to meeting you at Congress in May. Knock over to me and say hello if only to see if I have managed to master the delivery of my extravagant title!

*A slightly later little bird tells me that the early bird offer is extended for members only until 25th April. So get on the case right now. Email me for details.

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children 2.0

July 9, 2007 · Posted in news · 4 Comments 

Two new additions to the O’Byrne household arrived on Saturday night. on 07/07/07 at 7pm two little angels were born to Maiken and Fergal O’Byrne. All are doing well. IIA CEO said “I am delighted beyond description so for once I will stop” more news by way of comment to this post.

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