Informatics Mobile Apps Group Launch with RBS

Join us for the launch of the University of Edinburgh

Mobile Apps Group

and find out how to

win up to £3000

by creating an innovative mobile finance application. 

The launch event will feature a talk from Brigid Whoriskey, Head of Research and Innovations at the Royal Bank of Scotland Group.  Brigid will give an overview of where RBS is using mobile devices to engage with their customers.  

In addition, Brigid and her team would like to find out how you think mobile devices will make a difference to Banking in the future and drive a great customer experience.  The event will launch a new competition for mobile apps in finance!

Event Schedule

What is the Mobile Apps Group?

The Mobile Apps Group aims to bring together anyone interested in mobile applications development.  Barriers to developing and selling mobile applications are lower than for any other technology type.  We aim to lower them even further with a unique community of support and tools. 

The group will meet at School of Informatics Inspace on the third Wednesday of every month.  Meetings will follow an informal tech meet up style, with a couple of short presentations on a relevant theme, an opportunity to meet others interested in mobile applications, and free pizza and beer.

The Mobile Apps Group will also provide many of the tools you need to get started developing, testing and sharing apps.  Supporting iPhone development from the launch, University members will be able to register for free access to the iPhone Developer's Portal and swipe card access to an iMac lab in Appleton Tower that has Apple's Xcode and the latest iPhone SDK.  For times when the lab is not available, and for members without a University swipe card, we have also got a hot desk area available during office hours with Apple and Dell computers running popular mobile SDKs.  There will also be a group wiki for sharing app ideas, tips and tricks, links to online resources and other information.

Who is the Mobile Apps Group for?

We want this group to appeal to a broad base.  Mobile Apps require good design, content and business sense, as much as good code! 

The Mobile Apps Group is open to anyone, but at the moment access to computer labs can only be provided to University staff and students with a valid swipe card.  Wiki access is available to prospective members willing to sign up to the EASE Friend system.

What is on the horizon?

You tell us!  Where do you want to go with the Mobile Apps Group?  We're launching Mobile Apps Group with support for iPhone because these resources were already available to the University and iPhone has captured the imaginations of many people from hard core gadget nuts to the technophobic.  To make this group valuable to the broadest group of people, we're looking for your input on:

• What mobile platforms we should be supporting, what resources we should provide.
• Speakers for monthly meetings who will inspire you to develop your first or hundredth app. 
  
• Competitions to motivate your app development.
• Training events to help you get started.
• Advice on setting up and selling through the Apple App Store.