Press Release

City of Culture Bid at the world’s fingers-tips with new iPhone/iPod Touch App

Thursday, 27 May 2010

iPhone and iPod Touch users around the world will have all latest developments in the Derry-Londonderry’s UK City of Culture bid at their fingertips following the launch of the City of Culture App.

Pictured are City of Culture team members, Mo Durkan, Donna Farren and Gemma Wieberg promoting the new iPhone/iTouch City of Culture app.

The App which is called "UK City of Culture 2013" which was developed by Northern Ireland based software firm ‘Paper Bag Ltd’ has been available on the Apple iTunes App Store free of charge since late last Friday (May 21) and has already been downloaded by users as far away United States, Japan and Chile.

The City of Culture App has range a interactive features which will allow users to keep up to date with developments in the bid, including:

• History of the City and the Bid.
• Twitter Feed of @Derry2013.
• Top Cultural Attractions and video of each arranged on a map or list view.
• Facebook Wall and Comments where you can add a comment or ‘like’ a post.
• Photo Gallery to browse through all the albums that are hosted on the Facebook page.
• YouTube feed of City Of Culture videos.
• Submit your own cultural story in six words.
• Support the bid by sending in ideas or registering with the bid team.
• An RSS feed of upcoming Cultural Events.

A new version with the ability to upload your cultural photos by taking a picture or selecting from your camera roll will be released mid-next week. There will also be the functionality to directly sign up to the Twitter feed.

“The Derry-Londonderry bid has been very effective in using social media to drive the City of Culture campaign through Facebook and Twitter, and the iPhone/iPod Touch App will be another way for people who are interested in the campaign to keep in touch and give their feedback,” he said.

The App has already begun to be downloaded by both iPhone and iPod Touch users worldwide as Gary Gallagher, head of Product Research & Design and Marketing with Paper Bag explained.

“The marketing of the City of Culture iPhone/iPod Touch App has only started but people are already downloading it. Our feedback from the iTunes store has shown us that is has been downloaded by people all over the world it’s already been downloaded by people in the UK, USA, Chile and Japan. It’s enabling the message about the City of Culture to have a global reach,” he said.

For further press info contact the City of Culture Press Office on 028 7137 6575

Notes to Editor:

Derry -Londonderry is one of four cities shortlisted in the race to become the UK’s City of Culture in 2013, along with Birmingham, Norwich and Sheffield. Since it was shortlisted in February 2010, support for the campaign has been rapidly building momentum, with thousands of people backing it on Facebook. The city’s crusade has also received support from the United States, with the US Economic Envoy to Northern Ireland, Declan Kelly, backing Derry-Londonderry's bid. The city will submit its final bid at the end of May 2010, and the winner of UK City of Culture 2013 will be announced in the summer. It’s an important opportunity for the city, to share the diversity of the area, and its extraordinary past and exciting future, with the rest of the world. Register online at www.cityofculture2013.com and get involved.

Press Office

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