UPDATED: Moonpig launches iPhone app
Online greetings operation, Moonpig, has taken its hugely successful operation into the mobile arena with the launch of an iPhone application.
The move reinforces the brand's position as a major player in digital print-on-demand greetings.
Iphone users an now download the free app onto their iPhones and either use their own photos or adapt various templates provided by Moonpig to send personalised greetings. Payment can be made from pre-loaded funds via Moonpig's website.
The application also syncs with the iPhone address book and camera.
Moonpig's IT director, James Henson, admitted that it had taken the business a while to launch the mobile version of Moonpig but that it had been necessary to wait for the right moment.
"Certainly the consumer demand was there," he told GT. "But we had to be careful in tackling a new platform and although we consider ourselves to technology innovators, we didn't want to rush it.
"The demand for mobile services can only grow as proved by the instant success of the Moonpig app. To be honest we were a bit unsure and it was a bit of a punt for us. We hoped we would acquire new customers from it and we've certainly done that. The only direction is up!"
In only 10 days from its launch Moonpig went to No 6 on the UK's Free app chart and was No 1 in the Lifestyle chart. The app recorded 20,000 downloads in one day alone.
"With applications like this there's always an element of people just downloading it and playing around with it," added Henson. "But so far people are using it and buying cards through it and we are seeing significant sales volume through the application. We hope to recoup the development costs quite quickly."
Henson has ruled out launching an app for the Android mobile platform citing the need to ensure the iPhone version is developed fully.
The great thing about Apples App Store is that you can get instant feedback and we are already working on enhancements to the current software so there's a long way to go with this version."
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