http://deanklotz.com/?p=53

Allow me to include some further comments on Utopria’s platform and our own thoughts on the iPhone in general.

First, you may have noticed that we don’t actually have an iPhone app for our Mobile MediaPod. We’ve taken a different approach to our implementation – it’s web-based and for a variety of reasons.

If you’ve viewed our iPhone demonstration video, you’ve already seen that the iPhone’s Safari browser can be tied-in quite nicely with native iPhone functionality. By designing it this way, we avoid having a potential home buyer from having to download an app prior to viewing a listing.

We have created an impressive presentation by simply using a customized web-based infrastructure.

We also questioned whether home shoppers would actually download an app that would be only temporary. Most home shoppers will not use a real estate app on their iphone for long (they are not eternal home shoppers).

In our design sessions, one of our architects brought up an enlightening point. She asked, “Would consumers download an iPhone app to shop for cars or shoes? Will all retailers create apps for their products?” We understood. Creating an app for products and services is not necessary when there is already a gateway to this type of information (Safari).

Our Mobile MediaPod is essentially a mobile representation of our online multimedia web-based version. The advantage here is that by NOT creating an iPhone app, we don’t leave any mobile users behind.

If the home shopper has a monochrome-screened flip phone, a BlackBerry or an iPhone…it’s no problem for our mobile platform, it will format the property presentation for the device in the palm of their hand.

Finally, as far as our iPhone embedded video is concerned, this is a key area where our architects hit the mark.

We don’t use the iPhone to simply jump to YouTube to play video, nor do we stream flash or other raw video content. Our Mobile MediaPod (iPhone version) streams only compliant 3G videos and this means that they
play instantly. Streaming a YouTube video or large AVI/MPEG files is not practical approach to providing mobile video content over 3G networks.

For more information or clarification, please drop by our website for our contact information.

We’ve added a lot of new features and improvements that our users asked for, including more direct access to search Settings, flick-pan and pinch-zoom on the embedded map, and an option to jump straight to the Maps app when desired. We’ve also greatly improved the way we display agent contact info to make it easier for the consumer to contact the agent directly.

On a related note, we are currently updating our Puluwai for Google Android product (http://puluwai.com/android.php) to match the latest Android SDK and plan to have that available as soon as the Android Market launches.

BTW, FOREM has had an iPhone theme for over a year now, so any readers hitting this site with mobile Safari will get automatically redirected.

For all of you giving Realtor.com grief – they were actually the first of any of the big search portals to launch an iphone version of their site… way back in November of 2007. So let’s give ‘em a few props.

You can find it at iphone.realtor.com

The “map” tab just shows the listings on a map and when you click on it it takes you to the details of the listing.

Good news! You can pan round the neighborhood and get driving directions using the Trulia app. After you are on the details screen, click the arrow in the top right of your iPhone and you will see a number of tabs to choose from – Email to friend, Contact agent – here you can Call or email the listing agent directly [great for the consumer and for the agent - immediate contact], show on Trulia Map and Launch Google maps. Just click on the link that says “Launch Google Maps”. There you will be able to zoom in and around the neighborhood and get driving directions.

Hope this helps you. Thanks for trying out our app. More functionality to come….

Rudy
Social Media Guru at Trulia

Thanks for the clarification. I thought they had released their native app already. I find the way companies are developing to the iPhone fascinating. It will be exciting to show you what Roost.com will provide in this space very soon.

Derek