AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The University Co-op, serving the needs of University of Texas (UT) students and fans since 1896, announced today the launch of its iPhone rich application through mobile commerce leader Digby. The iPhone app complements The University Co-op’s mobile optimized website launched in 2010 and will provide University of Texas fans, students, Exes and faculty with a convenient and enhanced mobile shopping experience whether they are at home, on the go or in the store.
The University Co-op’s iPhone app, powered by the Digby Mobile Platform, provides all of the capabilities to search, browse and buy merchandise from the phone. The iPhone app’s unique features include:
- Texas Longhorn fan access to a Tower Cam where they can watch live video of the UT Tower changing colors when Texas wins a football game
- A Longhorn Cam which shows live video of the Longhorn statue behind The University Co-op store in Austin, Texas
- University of Texas sports schedules and scores
- Twitter and Facebook integration
- RSS feed integration with The Daily Texan, Austin American Statesman and The University Co-op blog so users can go to one app to find all UT and Austin news and information.
The University Co-op is also offering special weekly discounts for those who download and use the University Co-op iPhone app. Within 48 hours of downloading the app, consumers will be sent a push message alerting them to specials, events, and promos coming from the Co-op.
The iPhone app also includes the same great features as the University Co-op’s mobile optimized website such as: What’s New, Best Sellers, Sales and Promotions, Mens, Womens, Kids, Gifts, Game Day, Store Locator, Help, and Contact Us.
The University Co-op, a non-profit corporation owned by the students, faculty and staff of the University of Texas at Austin, is one of the most successful and progressive independent college bookstores in the country. Since 2000, the Co-op has given over 32 million dollars to the University of Texas in the form of gifts, grants and rebates.
“The Co-op has continually been on the forefront of online technology to bring the University of Texas community together. We were one of the first college bookstores in the U.S. to launch an ecommerce site, and now through the mobile channel, we are attracting a whole new generation of Longhorn fans,” said George H. Mitchell, President and CEO, The University Co-op. “The University of Texas community has made our mobile site a success and we are very excited to now offer them an enhanced mobile experience through the University Co-op iPhone app that provides them access to everything they need all in one place.”
The University Co-op’s expansion of its mobile strategy promises to be another mobile success as Nielsen predicts half of Americans will own a smartphone by the end of this year. According to Forrester, 24 percent of U.S. online iPhone users report having used a shopping app in the past three months.
“The addition of an iPhone app is a natural move for The University Co-op to drive an engaging mobile experience for students, faculty and fans,” said Dave Sikora, president and CEO, Digby. “UT fans are among the most loyal in the country and they love to show their pride through Longhorn gear. We are excited to be working with The University Co-op to give fans a unique and convenient way to purchase Longhorn merchandise via the mobile channel.”
About The University Co-op
Founded in 1896, The University Co-op opened as an association owned by students, faculty, and staff to furnish books, supplies, and clothing at discounted prices to its members. The University Co-op’s mission is to advance the educational interests of the University. All the after-rebate profit (excluding a small portion set aside for reinvestment) of the Co-op is used to support university-related projects and activities. Moreover, the last few years the Co-op has given almost all of the UT schools and colleges a major grant for capital and other long-term projects, such as student lounges, career centers, and computer laboratories. Since 2000, The Co-op has given over 32 million dollars to UT in the form of gifts, grants and rebates. Today the University Co-op is the largest seller of used textbooks in the country and the most profitable independent college bookstore in the United States. Please visit www.universitycoop.com.
About Digby
Digby mobilizes retailers by helping them take a strategic approach to mobile commerce and in-store mobile engagement, delivering a unique multi-channel retail branded experience for the mobile Web and rich Apps for today’s consumers whether they are at home, on the go, or in the retail store. Digby delivers a fully-managed suite of applications designed for iPhone/iPod Touch, BlackBerry and Android devices that empowers retailers to optimize their mobile strategy and unify their web, in-store and catalog channels. Solely focused on the retail channel since 2006 and with many top retailers already enabled including Toys “R” Us, Cabela’s, The Home Depot, Brooks Brothers, Wet Seal, Godiva, Republic, Golfsmith, Orvis and many others, Digby is the leading provider of mobile commerce and in-store engagement for retailers. Learn more about us at www.digby.com.