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Interview: KickApps Launches New App Studio for Far-Reaching Widgets Posted: 13 Jan 2009 06:02 AM PST KickApps is stepping up its game by launching a new KickApps App Studio today, effectively placing KickApps into the realm of application distributor. The update makes KickApps a platform for marketing and distribution, with options that reach far beyond the realm of KickApps-specific applications as well as sites powered by KickApps. Yahoo Maps and Meebo are both launch partners for the new KickApps App Studio, extending existing relationships with KickApps services and integrated options. To get a better idea of what the new App Studio has in store for web publishers, developers and advertisers, I spoke with KickApps’ Senior Vice President, Marketing, Michael Chin. Below is an excerpt of our conversation: Kristen Nicole of Social Times: What improvements have you made to your app studio from the previous offering to the current, upgraded version? Michael Chin of KickApps: The KickApps App Studio adds 3rd party applications to our application creation tool. This does two things: - Turns KickApps into a distribution platform for application developers to distribute their applications to thousands of top-tier web publishers, thus creating a new marketplace for creating and distributing applications. They now have access to over 50k web publishers, including some of the largest in the world, e.g. National Geographic, Guinness World Records and San Francisco 49ers. - Web publishers have a single solution for creating and access applications from the global web application development community for building out their websites and applications. We’ve added Meebo and Yahoo! Maps this time around (we added video ad networks in 2008) and are inviting application developers to submit their applications now. We’ll make a plug in API generally available in Q2 for any application developer. Kristen Nicole: As far as distribution goes, what tools and options are you extending to application developers? Michael Chin: Since they’ll have their applications in the App Studio, they’ll have access and could be used by over 50k web publishers with 1k added each week. They’re potentially used by large brands like HBO, National Geographic, NBA teams, etc., which are our clients. Kristen Nicole: In addition, how are your apps distributed across website publishers, especially those that aren’t using sites powered by KickApps? Michael Chin: They can be embedded on any website through embed codes or one-click sharing to major social networks like Facebook, MySpace, Hi5, and also blogs like Wordpress and blogger. We have a panel of numerous destinations — ala Clearspring. Kristen Nicole: And by “a la Clearspring” you mean the format for widget panels will be similar? Michael Chin: Yes. Just as Clearspring allows you to post a widget to multiple sites directly. Kristen Nicole: How do KickApps clients benefit from the new app studio solutions? Michael Chin: The App Studio is the most comprehensive and easiest to use solution for creating applications. They now have access to the tools for create custom applications and now have access to a large set of applications from the global developer community. Kristen Nicole: Meebo and Yahoo Maps are your launch partners for the new app studio. Can you tell us a little about their new applications that will be available through your platform? Michael Chin: Meebo Chat Rooms–chat rooms that can be customized with images, colors, look and feel, etc. With Yahoo! Maps, users will be able to customize maps by sizing them as necessary, changing view options (map, satellite or hybrid), and add functionality such as panning and clicking, display zoom, crosshair and scale bar, center address and add local search. Kristen Nicole: For an app like Meebo’s, how is an app from the IM company through KickApps different from what they already offer directly to clients? Michael Chin: This provides more options of functionality and applications for web publishers [especially those that have sites powered through KickApps, as they can add the Meebo widget directly for full integration].

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