Given the incredible popularity of the iPhone, many entertainers (and the studios backing them) are eager to establish a presence on Apple’s App Store, but don’t necessarily want to invest in the resources needed to independently develop their own iPhone applications. Today Kyte has launched its iPhone Apps Framework – a turn-key solution that allows Kyte partners to create applications that can include video, live chat, and monetization options with a minimal amount of development costs. Alongside the launch of the new platform, Kyte is announcing five artists from IGA records who have already released their iPhone applications, including the following free apps [all iTunes links]: The All American Rejects, Keri Hilson, Lady Gaga, The Pussycat Dolls, and Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em.
Besides Twitter feeds, RSS, and chat, Kyte also offers a listing of each artist’s most recent videos taken using Kyte.tv’s mobile phone video apps. And, perhaps most importantly for the artists, each app features a list of links to songs in the music section of Apple’s iTunes store.
Kyte isn’t the first company to launch a platform for branded iPhone applications. Other options include Infomedia’s Mobile Syndication Solutions, through which MC Hammer built his app.
Can you bypass Apple’s approval procedure with this?
No, since every application you build with the framework will have to be approved individually.
Love to see a WYSIWYG kit for developers… with module blocks and such
Kyte is all over the map. I still have no idea what they really do.
Do you have the option of charging for the apps? If so, what rev share does Kyte take?
biggest thing holding kite back is their name and extension. another problem is that most ipone apps are collecting dust. http://www.zdne...62051382,00.htm
this sounds like a good app and may be one that users will use constantly. i would like to see kite establish a premium social site channel (domain) that users will gravitate to naturally, stay forever and utilize their products. until than they will never have a premium strategic foothold on the online-mobile social revolution.
ArtistsLocator.com – show yourself
Launching a mobile platform is good for developers who still got to go through the apple verification to get their app certified..that sux!
Praveen
http://spraveen...ro.blogspot.com
Ok, I nearly freaked this morning, because our model is similar. However! After some research I have to ask, don’t we want media that is embedded? Don’t brands want their own branded experience, without the Kyte label? The tools are cool, but I wouldn’t want to be Kyte if MySpace moves into the same area!
That said. Cool! And no, there is no way to avoid the certification process. This is something that will take Apple’s commitment to speeding up the process. My understanding is that tools are being developed to in fact speed up the process.
I nearly chucked my coffee, not that people aren’t working on similar things. But, as with the Death Cab for Cutie application, when we sit down with people, we demo both. Time is an issue, when you’ve got 3-5 minutes to make your mark. Waiting is the death knell for such products.
Melvin,
Modularity is key. But there are other important aspects, that models such as Kyte highlight. In my mind the three aspects are customization, ease of use, and monetization. A cost effective platform will be pretty fantastic!
I agree that a more automated development profile/site thingie for the iPhone would be huge (the first one to get it right anyway).
I have been using for my artists nearly from the beginning of Kyte. I LOVE the technology and so do the fans.
To answer KP Miller – in my case, Kyte allows artists to Video Blog with ease and this application just provides another way to get those blogs to the fan.
Jason,
Blogging is great! But, others are interested in music packaging and promotion. Kyte appeared to me to be something like MySpace targeting different platforms. Consolidation of these networks is something to consider, particularly with Facebook moving into the area.
My primary concern is how does one give the audience an application-like experience without the cost. With a 3-5 minute experience, as many have found, waiting for the content is fine for loyal fans, but not necessarily great for expanding the audience.
Do you get many sales out of the platform?
Kyte’s app looks nice. I’ve reviewed Mobile Syndication Solutions and think it sucks.
both platforms dont seem to be building “real” apps built from the iphone sdk but rather an iphone web app…
Cool!