Paper presented by Vanessa Scott to the Mobile 2012 Conference @ CeBIT Australia 24 May 2012.

1. VicEvents Mobile App
Mobile 2012 Conference @ CeBIT Australia
24 May 2012

2. History
• Evolved from twice-
yearly poster produced
by Department of
Premier & Cabinet
• Costs, distribution
issues
• Limited number of
events
• Out of date

3. History - web
• Web version launched
Dec 2008 - http://
www.vic.gov.au/calendar.html

4. History - web
• Average 31,000
pageviews per month
• Increased growth in web
version
• Increased growth in
mobile use
=> Next step – go mobile

5. About VicEvents
• Launched October 2011
• Free app –
iPhone,iPad,iPod Touch
& Android
• Over 3,000 events
• Updated daily
• Simple to use

6. App development
• Partnership with Deloitte
• Design and development of application for multiple
platforms (iOS & Android)
• Decision to use Titanium Framework because cost
effective for multiple platforms
• Development of API - can be repurposed
• Free analytics tool - Appcelerator - to capture
analytics - http://www.appcelerator.com/
• Rapid development

7. Technical challenges
• iTunes account submission
• Development issues – Android (screen resolution)
• Titanium-specific issues, eg. swiping
• Testing – Android devices

8. Usability testing
• Observed users interacting with application
• Testers – project team and other people from
department
• Identified issues
• Range of devices tested
• 3 rounds

9. Home page – phone and tablet

10. Interface - phone

11. Interface - tablet

12. Features
• Find events by:
– Nearby (GPS)
– Date
– Location (region or local
council)
– Category
– Shake your phone for random
event
• Suggest an event
• Share an event (via email,
Twitter and Facebook)
• Google Maps

13. Statistics and Ratings
• 6,128 sessions (April 2012)
• 2,123 new users (April 2012)
• 77% iPhone / 23% Android
• 10,460 downloads (6 October 2011 - 16 May 2012)
• (Source: Appcelerator, May 2012)
• App Store - Rated 4+
• Google Play Store - Rated 3.7

14. Future development – Version 2.0
• Version 2.0 upgrade
• New features will include ability to add multi-date
events to calendar

15. Contact
VicEvents - http://www.vic.gov.au/VicEvents
Vanessa Scott
Content Manager
Department of Business & Innovation
Ph: 03 9938 0517
Email: vanessa.scott@dbi.vic.gov.au