What's Your Experience in Building Mobile Apps for Ning Platform?

[Jen]

Hi Fellow NCs!

Happy Veterans Day!

I'm creating this discussion to ask for your expertise/experiences in creating mobile apps for a Ning Community. My Design Firm is about to embark on building our first Mobile App for a Ning Community. I want to make sure we build the app using the best mobile app development tool or service, and that we use a tool/service that's the most cost efficient for development and ongoing-costs .

 

We're looking at Shoutem's new application builder and Mobile Roadie. We would love to hear about your experiences, what you used to build your mobile app, what your mobile app offers, and your successes.

 

Thank you in advance for sharing your experiences. I would be extremely grateful for any guidance on this.

• Mobile App Platform Tool or Service
• Mobile App Features
• ~ What does yours do?
• ~ Is it geared towards your Members only, or all Mobile App Users?
• Approximate Cost per month?
• ~ Do we pay Ning for the use of API in addition to the Mobile App service? I honestly don't know.
• ~ Or in the case of Mobile Roadie, does the "technology partnership" with Ning include all API costs? Again, I don't know yet. I'm guessing we have to pay both, and why I would love to hear cost feedback.
• How large is your User Base?

We would welcome any information you would like to share.

Thanks again, and really looking forward to some awesome feedback.

Best Regards,

Jen

[Robin]

I am looking for one that would give allow members to actually contribute rather than just read the site PLUS I have an RSS feed for our jobs http://jobs.newmediahire.com that I want to add. You can see it is just a list of jobs but that is our only money maker on the site so it is crucial people have access to it and can view. My analytics show that 40% people people view the site via their mobile. An app would make it SOOO much easier.

[Eric]

 I am using/testing AppMyNetwork.com... works great for viewing AND commenting. Currently many new features, but only on iOS (iPhone/iPad) for now. And you dont need to signup for a more expensive Ning-plan :-)

[MeeFee Adams]

Can you comment on wall posts via AppMyNetwork.com?

[MeeFee Adams]

Yes, my members are looking to do the same...comment on posts instead of just reading them.  Let me know when you find a program that accommodates that.  Right now I'm using Shoutem and it's wonderful but I just need something that is comparable to FB.  As of now, members can leave wall posts through the app but no comments can be made to them.  Only commenting on blogs and news.

[Viktor]

Hi Robin, please contact us at shoutem [at] shoutem.com. We should be able to import your jobs listing.

Best!

[Robin]

Thanks Viktor. Right now we are seeking a free solution so may have to go with something that initially is not interactive or just has a list of the jobs. I've been playing with iBuildApp and have a question in to them. It might work for what I need.

For later though, with Shoutem, do you have to send your app to the market in order for users to use the app, and if not, how does that work?

[frankie]

I have sent numerous emails to shoutem asking questions and have not had one reply. No phone number to ask questions either. Spending 50 bucks a month with a company that does not respond or does not have a phone number is a little scary. Does not look good. 

[JFarrow]

that's exactly why i havent gone with shoutem....i agree

[Viktor]

Hi guys.
I just got email from this thread but we do not see anything in our support system that came from you. All the Ning related questions are replied as I see. Could you please resend your emails to [e-mail].
So far we have replied to every single email we've got and there were thousands of them. Usually we respond in the same day. We have also tested our contact form and it looks like it works fine. 

[frankie]

I used your email form on your website several times. I will use the email you suggested. I am trying your system as we speak. One thing I notice is there is no option to see members? I know that God-Space as an example has a members icon but I do not see how you add this on your site. Can you help?

[Viktor]

That is the 'Users' icon that you will find under 'Social Networking' module. You can rename it on the left side inside a builder.

We can rename Shouts for you but that option is not available in the dashboard UI. 

Please send that request to [e-mail] and our support will do it for you.

Viktor

[frankie]

There is no Users under social networking module.