Today, there’s an app for everything. With the poke of a touch screen, many smartphone owners have an immediate means of tracking their checking accounts, cheating at The Houndstooth’s trivia nights, and ripping a few satisfying electronic farts. But can one hand-held program encompass all of a town’s activities? What about a bustling college town’s entire social scene? Actually yes, there’s an app for that.
Originally launched last fall during its testing stage, Ttown Today offers locals and visitors an interactive real-time guide to Tuscaloosa’s nightlife, restaurants and activities. This week marks a more widespread launch of the application for iPhone and Android. Bill Branch, owner of Ttown Today, has high hopes for his app’s reception.
“This is something that I think will catch on,” Branch said. “It’s a great tool for students to use.”
According to information technologist Brian Rust, 45 percent of college students owned smartphones in 2010. This increased twofold from 2009.
A broader, more recent study conducted by Ball State University’s Institute for Mobile Research suggests that 99.8 percent of college students have some type of cell phone. And as Verizon and AT&T compete for parents’ money, the number of students entering the smartphone market continues to grow.
“Nowadays you’re finding your news on a smartphone, not the newspaper,” Branch said. “It’s the hot item for college students and a way to reach them.”
Ttown Today gives Tuscaloosa businesses opportunities to reach a potential audience of thousands. Using the app and website, ttowntoday.com, businesses have access to free promotion simply by submitting an event to the website’s event calendar. Ttown Today aggregates the approved events and makes the calendar available to eager socialites.
“It gives us an opportunity to show people what band or specials we have on certain nights,” said Jeremy Hicks, general manager at FIVE. “It’ll be great when all the football fans are wandering around and don’t know where to go.”
Students have the opportunity to post their own events as well. While kegger invitations will probably remain exclusive to Facebook, the app will offer student organizations new ways to coordinate philanthropy, recruitment and other events.
Aside from covering local events, bars and restaurants, the app has many other functions. It includes a Facebook interface, GPS system, weather report, and a way for users to upload pictures and videos. These pictures and videos have the potential to be put on the website, and many already are. And for less skilled cameramen, Ttown Today actually provides professionals.
“We’re currently partnered with two AP-award-winning photographers,” Branch said. “People can request the photographers to help promote and record their event free of charge.”
Branch said he and his team are currently working on “hotspots,” giving users access to the “bests” of different categories such as sushi, burgers, beer, etc. Making the list may be the next big feat for Tuscaloosa establishments.
“We’re proud of our steak,” said David Simpson, managing partner at Evangeline’s. “We want to be in that hotspot.”
Maybe the most innovative aspect of the app is its local focus. Sure, Tuscaloosa restaurants may appear on FastFood, Zagat’s To Go, or other broader apps. But on TtownToday, everything else—before and after dinner—comes with it.
“We facilitate access to Tuscaloosa,” Branch said. “It’s in the palm of your hand.”
