ILLUME Media wanted to expand its readership base by developing an iPhone and iPad version of its award winning online magazine. The company wanted its mobile apps to appeal to its readers, by providing a contemporary design, an attractive UI, great usability and rock solid stability. The apps’ design, usability and stability were vital features for ILLUME Media, as both apps were expected to be downloaded by thousands of users every day and have content updated on a daily basis by its editorial staff. Moreover, being an award-winning digital news outlet with a dedicated readership, the company’s apps were bound to be compared to similar apps by major news outlets such as the Associated Press and the Washington Post, among others.

As such, it was critical for ILLUME Media that its iPhone and iPad apps reflect the same level of usability, design aesthetic and stability, as offered by its contemporaries. The company had already developed basic prototypes for both apps but lacked the resources to bring them to fruition. To help it deliver on this proposition the company chose to partner with Folio3, due to Folio3’s reputation as mobile app development specialists.

After evaluating the requirements, the Folio3 team started work on the project. Working in close collaboration with ILLUME Media’s management the team implemented all the design and UI elements that ILLUME had imagined, along with additional features such as Facebook and Twitter Integration. They also optimized the apps’ code to ensure that both apps ran smoothly on all the target devices (which included both current and previous generations of iPhones and iPads) without any hiccups.

Thanks to Folio3’s efforts, ILLUME Media was able to take its developed app prototypes to the next level, both in terms of design and development. Folio3 was able to incorporate all the design and UI elements and functionality that ILLUME Media had envisioned for its apps, along with the stability that it desired. As a result, ILLUME Media was able to bring both its iPhone and iPad apps to market within a short span of 3 months. The company recently submitted the final builds for both apps to the App Store for publishing.

ILLUME Media was so pleased with Folio3’s work on its apps that it has granted Folio3 free advertising space in both its iPad and iPhone apps and has also engaged Folio3’s services for providing maintenance for both the apps, as and when needed.