New Winterlude application is a free download available for the iPhone.
The success of the NCC’s new Winterlude iPhone app has the federal agency looking to provide touch-screen information for a host of other services and events in the national capital, officials say.
Social media users can now check ice conditions, event dates, locations, personal calendars, and share their experiences with the new Winterlude app, marking a new wave in the agency’s mobile technology use.
Users will be able to get up-to-the-minute, real-time information on more local activities as the NCC plans to expand its apps to services such as ski conditions in Gatineau Park, and events such as Fall Rhapsody, the annual changing-of-the-leaves celebration.
The success of the free and bilingual Winterlude app, which can be downloaded from iTunes, triggered the NCC to look for more ways to reach out to users long after Winterlude winds up on Feb. 21, the agency says.
“This is not the end, it’s just the beginning,” says Daniel Feeny, the NCC’s director of digital communications outreach and youth programs.
This year marks the 33rd edition of the classic Ottawa winter tradition and Feeny says the Winterlude app will become a permanent part of the festival.
He says the NCC hopes to expand the service to BlackBerry and Android devices and improve the existing mobile-friendly version of site.
“This year is a test. We already know it’s a big success, and we’re already thinking about improvement for next year,” says Feeny.
Some possible improvements include tracking speed and distance skated on the canal, syncing music to the app, adding stories about the canal and its history, a GPS system and podcasts.
Feeny says the NCC is in talks with the app developer for next year.
Ottawa-based firm Favequest created both the Rideau Canal and Winterlude apps.
“As developers, we’re always looking to improve things, and get suggestions from people to enhance it so even more people have it in their pocket,” says Favequest’s CEO Allan Isfan.
The Winterlude app was launched Jan. 12, and had 5,126 downloads as of Feb. 7, says Feeny.
The Rideau Canal Skateway app had 2,787 downloads as of the same date.
“We want to make events closer to users, visitors, to participants, and we are really listening to them,” says Feeny.
Winterlude app-user Kaisha Thompson says while there are technical glitches, the information is useful to plan ahead and connect with friends while skating on the canal.
Feeny says the canal’s ice condition is the most requested information on the NCC’s website and officials wanted to give users this data on the go.
The idea was first tested with a Canada Day app last year, and 6,235 people downloaded it for the one-day event, according to the NCC.
While still in pilot project phase, no cost figures are being released for the Winterlude app, but with a call for proposals in the upcoming months, the price will be made public, says Feeny.