Monocle

The Challenge

Monocle chose to work with Mubaloo to develop a new iPhone app that would launch Monocle’s new radio station, Monocle 24. The iPhone app was developed to enable users all over the world to listen to the new radio station both live and at a later stage via their playlist. As this app has been developed for a global audience, it needed to offer content flexibly to suit various time zones. Mubaloo worked alongside Monocle’s own app designers to develop this iPhone app.

Our Solution

This iPhone app enables users to listen to live shows and through a Timeshift browser (sponsored by Rolex) view what is coming up and when, as well as adding future shows to their playlist. These podcasts become available as soon as the show has aired. The radio shows are split into categories and cover a range of current affairs, business, culture and music. Another feature of the app is 25/25. This travel guide section of the app lets users view both business and leisure information about certain cities and see recommended restaurants, hotels, shopping, transport, fitness centres and Rolex dealerships. 25/25 integrates with Google maps so users can easily find any place on the recommended list, bookmark places for quick reference later and also share via SMS or email. Places of interest can be recommended to Monocle via a form on the app. Monocle will then visit the recommended location and then add it onto their list of recommended places at their discretion. There is also a weather button on the home screen, in association with Kuoni that talks people through the day’s global weather forecast.

Conclusion

The app (designed by Monocle and developed by Mubaloo) has been developed to showcase Monocle’s new radio station and give users access to news, weather and travel information. In its first month, Monocle 24 was downloaded over 5,000 times and was listed as Number 1 in the News Category on iTunes in its first week.