FryPanDigital, a startup that intends to create “tasty apps” was founded by, “…two dudes who know nothing about application development, but wanted to try super hard to kick out an iPhone app.” These two have succeeded in “kicking out an app” and have released their new, free Minneapolis Skyway app for iPhone (their blog; iTunes link).
I met co-founder John Haddad at the Mobile March event a couple of months ago. He said that he’d keep in touch on the apps release and, true to his word, did so today and I thought I’d write a post immediately so you all could go and download this free app.
If you’ve ever spent any time hiking through the 8+ miles of skyway in the Minneapolis system, you know how challenging it is to find your way, locate that favorite deli or coffee shop you’ve been thinking about, or are heading toward to meet a friend for lunch and if you’re like me — a guy who detests pausing for several minutes to locate my destination on a skyway directory and then orient myself in the skyway labyrinth over-n-over again — this app will be a godsend and make it significantly simpler to ensure you and I don’t get lost in the skyway system.
For retailers and merchants who struggle to get the attention of potential skyway-walking customers (and face restrictions on placing signage in the walkways) this app promises to give them a new avenue to connect with customers as well as prospective ones. This is a struggle I know all too well since a few college buddies of mine once had a video rental store on the skyway system and every day multiple people would stop in and express surprise and delight that, “Oh good! There’s a video rental store in the skyway. How long have you been here?” even though they’d been in business at that location for several years. This app holds the promise of being both a fabulous tool for people to discover merchants and retailers but will also enable those retailers and merchants to deliver specials, deals and other focused advertisements through the app.
Mobile advertising through the app is the obvious monetization play for FryPan Digital and Haddad mentioned that they have been receiving nice feedback on the app, solid downloads (more than 100 even before this launch as a developer download) and they also enjoyed this great article at the Examiner. Here are some screenshots of the app:
It’s clear that Haddad and crew hope that this app becomes wildly successful and fuels a business surrounding it. If the word gets out and people use it, they’ve got a good shot at making it the de facto way for mobile users to navigate the skyway system and to also act as a channel for merchants and retailers to leverage.
Take a peek at their video about the app and go download it if you’re a Twin Citian who traverses the Minneapolis skyway system or if you’re a visitor to our fair city: