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IMDb rolls out new iPhone app to cater to passionate entertainment users

Amazon?s IMDb has rolled out a new application that lets its users stay on top of entertainment news about their favorite celebrities, movies and TV shows by creating a news feed tailored to their interests.

The IMDb Buzz iPhone and iPod touch app lets users see breaking news stories as soon as they happen. The app is available for free download in Apple?s App Store.

?Our users are super passionate,? said Kintan Brahmbhatt, head of mobile at IMDb, Seattle. ?This app fits in with our overall vision.?

IMDb, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Amazon.com, is an online entertainment destination for movies and television.

Mobile buzz
Via the IMDb Buzz app, users can access breaking entertainment news from sources such as Access Hollywood, indieWire and The Wrap.

Users can check out the latest images from red carpet events, movies and TV shows.

Additionally, users can customize their preferences and follow their favorite celebs, movies, TV shows and news sources.

Users can browse the latest news from their favorite TV shows

Users can rank their news feed to get the information they want to see first.

The app also lets entertainment buffs share their favorite stories, celebs, titles and images with friends and family via Facebook, Twitter, email and SMS.

?There?s a huge shift happening in browsing, smartphones, Internet-connected devices and tablets,? Mr. Brahmbhatt said.

?Users are using their devices more and IMDB is just being ahead of the curve,? he said. ?We want to provide the best experience on all devices.

Strategy
IMDb has been doing a lot in the mobile space recently.

In addition to rolling out an iPhone, iPad and Android application which centers around movies and TV, the company has recently introduced a trivia app.

Since its launch less than a month ago, the app has been downloaded more than 500,000 times and more than 60 million trivia questions have been played.

?We are very close to our users,? Mr. Brahmbhatt said. ?We?ll be enhancing these specific apps.

?We?re constantly looking at observing metrics and scenarios that users are passionate about,? he said. ?Our goal is to make IMDb a daily habit.?

Final Take
Rimma Kats is staff reporter on Mobile Marketer, New York