NuageProduction launches media content apps for iPhone

By Dan Butcher

January 6, 2009

Mobile access to USA Today

NuageProduction has released four applications for the iPhone and iPod touch that give consumers customized access to thousands of international media sources, including USA Today and CBS.

The NuageProduction apps let consumers personalize a content index from ever-expanding directories of TV networks, radio stations, print media, RSS feeds and Web pages. The applications work on 3G, Edge and Wi-Fi networks, as well as in airplane mode with streaming and downloading options.

"It is important for high-end users and travelers to have mobile access to all types of media, including radio, TV, newspapers and RSS feeds," said Frederic Sigal, president of NuageProduction, Paris, France. "We felt that the free apps would each target a different audience, while the premium Player app includes the functionality of all of these apps.

"We want to be able to offer content to high-end users, but we also want to offer branded apps to media companies wanting to enter the mobile space [and] radio, TV and newspaper properties that are interested in leveraging the mobile channel with their own internal content or dedicated mobile commercials," he said.

Video access requires a Wi-Fi connection.

CBS News and 60 Minutes on mobile

"We want to ensure that users have access to the latest content at all times," Mr. Sigal said. "Once it's downloaded, a network connection is not required to access it."

Three of the four applications -- NuagePapers, NuageTV and NuageRadio -- are free from the Apple App Store.

Those three apps are ad-supported.

A fourth application -- NuagePlayer -- combines the functionality of the other three applications plus added features, and is available for $3.99.

Version 1.0 of the applications includes thousands of worldwide links to TV shows, live radio programs, podcasts, newspaper front pages and RSS feeds.

NuagePlayer is the only application that combines access to all media and offers automated downloads of the latest refreshed enclosures per feed.

NuagePlayer users also can add their own feeds to the provided links.

The apps provide access to deferred content, ensuring that consumers can access content made available on the Web by media companies at any time.

The company will soon release a fifth application -- NuageProtect -- for enterprise and mobile consumers who wish to safeguard or geographically limit access to documents or other content.

The geolocalization features let companies restrict access to content within authorized boundaries or networks.

The geolocalization features not only regionally customize media content for consumers, but they also can secure important documents for business users by providing boundaries for access.

This patent-pending feature, through "permanent mirroring" of source content, ensures that content is accessed, updated or deleted on the mobile device at the discretion of the source.

NuageProduction plans to introduce versions of the applications for the Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Nokia and Mac OS X platforms.

The company is in advanced discussions with global media companies about a variety of potential content-related and advertising partnerships, although it did not discuss any details.

NuageProduction specializes in mobile platforms, software solutions, content production and security.

Founded in 2008 by former General Electric and Apple executives, the company is based in Paris and has an office in Houston.

The NuageProduction team includes engineers and marketing consultants, graphic designers and project managers.

NuageProduction plans to let its media partners handle the mobile advertising themselves.

"It's important for the end user not to be disturbed by advertising messages, so we leave commercials in the control of our media partners," Mr. Sigal said. "Ads appear in a single view of the app, and our partners will be taking the responsibility of selling this ad space.

"For example, whenever a user is watching a CNN feed or a USA Today feed, there will be a banner on top of the feed displaying media advertising," he said. "In the future, we will offer targeted commercials on videos, providing geolocation of retail stores or redirecting consumers to a Web site to purchase the item."

These apps represent NuageProduction's first commercial release.

"We're taking very good care to look at all of the feedback we've received," Mr. Sigal said. "We've had a lot of downloads already, and we plan to evolve the apps on a daily basis to improve them as much as we can.

"The directories are self-refreshing, so consumers will get updates without having to download a new app," he said.