Time Out sees 6000% rise in app downloads

Press release:

6th July 2011

In June, Time Out has made the decision to make all travel apps free for the foreseeable future – a move which saw the average weekly download per app jump from 140 downloads a week to over 8000, a rise of a staggering 6000%

It also saw New York appear at number one in the iTunes top free travel apps chart, (briefly knocking Google off the top spot), Manchester appear at number eight and London at 12.

Customer feedback indicates that although the initial flurry of downloads came due to the app being free, the continued strength was equally down to the buzz generated by the overwhelmingly positive response from new users in forums and blogs, this in turn had the knock on effect of a further increase in downloads. With an average of four star reviews, and incredibly positive feedback on both content and functionality, the downloads began to snowball.

David Pepper, Managing Director of Time Out Digital said;

“We know that a large number of the two million people who visit the Time Out London website each month to find the best things to do in the capital, also visit five other cities per year.

We want to reach the widest audience possible with our app travel guides and we also want as much customer feedback as possible, so that we can continue to optimize the functionality and content to provide what our audience really wants. Making the apps free to download was the easiest way to do this.

'Time Out raises the city app bar' – The Guardian Nov 2010

Compiled, by the same resident experts who provide Time Out’s trademark expertise for the Time Out Guide books, the apps will help users track down the best of select cities on-the-go, featuring the lowdown on the myriad of museums, attractions, restaurants, bars, arts, entertainment and nightlife that cities has to offer. Time Out travel apps are entirely offline avoiding unexpected roaming charges.

This ties in with Time Out’s other major London/New York news story that last month Oakley Capital Investments made a significant investment in Time Out New York, which follows a previous 50% investment in Time Out London last November. The deal has been structured to support Time Out accelerate from magazine publisher to digital media group

Expert local knowledge in your pocket; the app city lovers have been waiting for

Key functionality features of the Time Out Travel Apps include

• Entirely offline maps and 'Locate Me' facility

• Bookmarks & day-by-day planner

• Search by venue name & keyword

• What's nearby, with distances from venues

Key editorial features include

• Inspire me

• Top 20s for Sightseeing, Eat & Drink, Nightlife & Shopping

• Editor's picks

• Area guides

To download and trial the Time Out travel apps go to www.timeout.com/iphonecityguides

ENDS

Praise for Time Out’s previous city apps

Nominated for Best Travel App – Carphone Warehouse Appys 2011

'Time Out's city guides are unsurpassable' – The Times

'The Time Out guides, updated regularly by savvy locals, are still the best available for hipster travellers of any age' – New York Times

'These guides take you underground, under the skin' – Vanity Fair

'Hard-to-fault guides compiled by local experts' – Independent on Sunday