| iPhone apps aren't just for small development | | | | globe (the app's intro animation), and a random |
| firms and gadget geeks anymore these days | | | | gift from Target will pop up. |
| even big banks, retailers, and software giants like | | | | The Weather Channel's iPhone Application |
| Microsoft and Oracle are getting in on the app act. | | | | The Weather Channel wants you to be able to |
| Why? Not only does the next generation of | | | | know what weather conditions will be like no |
| consumers feel comfortable with spending much | | | | matter where you might be. This iPhone app |
| of their life online, they expect their retailer, bank, | | | | allows you to get the typical Weather Channel |
| or software company of choice to offer them | | | | local weather information for your city or region, |
| the freedom to do business anywhere, from their | | | | but its customizable weather maps also allow you |
| iPhone. To meet the demands of its internet and | | | | to pick multiple layers of maps, displaying radar, |
| iPhone savvy customers, more and more big | | | | UV index, rain/snow fall, and more. |
| businesses are debuting their own iPhone apps. | | | | Oracle's iPhone App for Business People |
| Here's a look at a few of them: | | | | Business software giant, Oracle, posted an iPhone |
| Microsoft's Seadragon iPhone Application. | | | | app in November 2008 to allow sales managers to |
| In mid-December 2008, Microsoft released its first | | | | review quotes, approve or reject these quotes, |
| iPhone app a photo gallery app called Seadragon. | | | | chart sales forecasts, etc. Another Oracle iPhone |
| Perhaps users were hoping for an iPhone app like | | | | application allows general managers to review |
| Microsoft Office for the iPhone, or at least | | | | expense reports, job postings, purchase orders, |
| FreeCell, but Seadragon is Microsoft's toe-dipping | | | | etc. As the business world becomes increasingly |
| experiment into the iPhone application pool. | | | | mobile and global, Oracle is one step ahead of its |
| Google's iPhone App | | | | competitors in allowing its customers to access |
| Far ahead of Microsoft (as usual), in December 5, | | | | business information on the go. (Source: |
| 2007, Google released its iPhone app that, like a | | | | Information Week, November 29, 2008) |
| Google homepage, consolidated all of Google's | | | | Bank of America's iPhone App Helps you Find the |
| services into one page, so that users could easily | | | | ATM |
| access their Gmail, YouTube, Google Maps, and | | | | Remember that old television commercial for Visa, |
| other services. In-line with Google's typical | | | | where a couple lost in the desert of some |
| corporate attitude, Google's press release on this | | | | remote part of the world with no cash was met |
| iPhone application stated that their commitment to | | | | by a young boy frantically shouting, "Ateeim! |
| provide "users with access to information, | | | | Ateeim! Ateeim fix everything!" As the couple |
| wherever they are is a device-independent | | | | wondered who Ateeim was, the boy led them to |
| commitment" in other words, expect to see | | | | the village center, where, miraculously, an ATM |
| similar versions of this app on Google's own | | | | stood. With Bank of America's iPhone app, you |
| Android phone, as well as other touch-screen | | | | don't have to rely upon the natives anymore to |
| phones. (Source: Google Press Center, December | | | | find the closest ATM. Bank of America's iPhone |
| 5, 2007) | | | | application will show you the nearest ATM to your |
| Target's Holiday Shopping iPhone App application | | | | location and will also allow you to check your |
| Target created a holiday shopping iPhone app that | | | | balance and pay your bills, all from the |
| lets you browse through gifts and offers the | | | | convenience of your iPhone. Only now we need all |
| ability to locate a store to purchase them, or buy | | | | the other banks to come out with iPhone |
| them online at If you don't know what to get, | | | | applications so other customers can have the |
| you can shake your iPhone as you would a snow | | | | same easy access. |