NBC’s Today Show, Sporting News extend reach with Palm Pre apps

By Dan Butcher

June 11, 2009

NBC's Today Show app for Palm Pre

NBC's Today Show and Sporting News have launched applications for the Palm Pre, both available as free downloads in the on-device beta App Catalog.

Both publishers tapped Zumobi, which designed the two applications for the new Palm webOS mobile platform. As one of the very first launch partners for the Palm Pre, new versions of its Today Show and Sporting News Baseball apps were introduced as part of the Zumobi Network.

"Branded companies now realize that mobile applications can extend beyond mere advertising and awareness building," said Ken Willner, CEO of Zumobi, Seattle. "Media brands in particular are seeking innovative ways to reinforce their positioning, as well as ultimately generate new revenue streams from their marketing initiatives.

"Branded mobile content represents a huge potential as consumers look for apps across multiple platforms that are both interesting and a value-add to their lives," he said. "With 50,000 apps in the Apple App Store, there is an undeniable opportunity to directly connect brands with their target audiences.

"Like its other partners, Zumobi worked with SportingNews.com and NBC to create a tailored mobile experience with brand-specific and compelling messaging, content and interactivity that drives downloads, meaningful engagement, and delivers ongoing value to users."

The Sporting News Baseball app for Palm Pre

Palm Pre is the first phone running the new Palm webOS platform featuring Palm Synergy, which pulls consumers' contacts and calendars from places like Outlook, Google and Facebook.

The Pre's design includes a touchscreen and a physical keyboard that slides out when needed.

Zumobi is a mobile media company that designs, develops and distributes branded applications for next-generation smartphones.

Ken Willner is CEO of Zumobi

In addition to interviews and tips from NBC's Today Show, TodayShow.com offers a behind-the-scenes blog with anchors and regular expert columns on everything from food and wine to travel, fashion and relationships.

MSNBC.com also recently tapped Zumobi for the launch of the Rachel Maddow Show application for the iPhone and iPod touch, offering consumers a new way to get Ms. Maddow's look at politics, pop culture and current events (see story).

The official Today Show application for Palm Pre offers consumers access to the program's leading news, entertainment and lifestyle content, right from their mobile device.

This application is a first-of-its-kind for the morning news program category and represents a compelling new way for Today viewers to enjoy content from America's number-one morning program for more than 13 years running.

Available only for the Palm Pre, the Sporting News Baseball app provides in-game score update alerts and a calendar feature that allows consumers to put their favorite teams' games directly onto their own calendar.

With exclusive content from SportingNews.com, the app gives fans immediate access to scores, full standings, stats, MLB league and team news, player details, in-game updates and post-game recaps.

SportingNews.com is a destination for like-minded sports enthusiasts who enjoy playing fantasy games, blogging and using the site's social networking tools.

Baseball fans, perhaps more than any other sport, crave stats and information about their favorite teams and players, according to SportingNews.com.

Even though Apple stole some of Palm's thunder with its announcements this week (see story), early reviews of the Pre have been positive (see story).

"We have heard positive feedback and many reviewers seem to really like the device," Mr. Willner said. "The Palm Pre gives the Zumobi Network additional reach and distribution via a new platform to build an experience for the brands and advertising partners with which we work.

"We believe this is just one step toward the true emergence of the ‘superphone,' a term coined by Zumobi to describe the evolution of the mobile device to provide more engaging apps delivering a richer mobile media experience and services that end-users are demanding with the availability of new handsets, such as the iPhone and Palm Pre," he said.

"This is a great time for Zumobi to help companies of all sizes leverage the sophistication of today's smartphones with direct-to-consumer programs that promote brands and generate new revenue."