Exclusive Runtastic iOS App Interview With App Developer, Runtastic
As many of you already know Runtastic is the most incredible fitness app. Many reviewers already in the app store markedly mention that they couldn’t even run without this app. That is how good and essential it is. We have almost completed our review of this app but before we publish that we wanted to publish our exclusive review with the App Developer. Read this incredibly insightful interview here, find out how the app was created, the challenges faced and what Runtastic have got planned for the future, just don’t miss it…
The Beginning
1 Please explain how your app was originally thought of and what were your thoughts behind the marketplace, specifically?
The goal of our app is to help people to track, plan, manage and share their fitness activities (indoor and outdoor) around the globe in real time. The app helps people to get in contact through the runtastic fitness portal and spread out through social networks like Facebook or Twitter. First we saw our app as a distribution channel and then also as a mayor revenue channel. Those were mainly our thoughts.
Design
2 Explain the design, how you came up with the colors and themes.
At the beginning it was really difficult to find the right style and UI elements for the app because we already knew that we’ve a lot of parameters to cover like distance, time, calories, heart rate, …, but after making some mockups, we found a really good way. Today we’re working more on little improvements for the GUI and also in the improvement of the app colors and themes.
Target Market
3 Who do you see as the main target market for this app in terms of age, genre and expenditure?
Our main target market are fitness enthusiastic people between the ages of 25 – 60. These people invest in their health and well-being. Therefore runtastic offers premium quality apps in the context of health and fitness.
Production Process
4 How long did it take from the original planning to the production process of this app?
The planning was about 2 months, and it took about 4 months to get the first prototype in the store (5/2009 – 11/2009).
Sales
5 How do you predict sales to be, is there a good solid market for this style of app?
We predict our sales by planning free lite sales (downloads) and a conversion rate to our runtastic PRO App for 5,99 $. First we planned sales for our home country, Austria, then for Austria & Germany and then for several other countries.
Obstacles
6 What has been the hardest obstacle you have had to overcome regarding this app development?
Not to over-engineer the App and maintain high quality of UI, stability and an easy, logical use of the App for new customers.
Third Parties
7 Would you consider developing apps for third parties?
Yeah, we develop Apps for other companies in Austria, e.g. for a big telecommunication provider, for a leading food & beverages company and for a well known energy drink seller. Also for other internet companies, runtastic has developed apps.
App Store
8 What have you learnt from the App Store?
Visibility and reaching a Top 25 position is crucial. Also screenshots, app description and key words are essential. What is really great in iTunes is the fully integrated, easy to use payment process, this is the key success factor for both – Apple & Developers.
Apple Support
9 Have Apple supported you well with your App development?
Yes, Apple supported us well and also features us sometimes in Austria and Germany, unfortunately not in other big markets such as US and UK.
The Future
10 What next, are you developing another app, would you go for the same genre again, if not which?
Yes, because it’s our goal to build a sustainable social health & fitness company. Apps (esp. on iTunes) are essential to reach our goal. Therefore we are already developing further fitness & health apps, which will be launched in May and June 2011.
TheAppWhisperer.com
11 What do you think about TheAppWhisperer.com? Have we helped you? Would you recommend us? Have we been supportive?
We like the site and app introductions. Therefore we tried a small ad campaign with your site. Yes, you have been very supportive and we would recommend you.
Runtastic Pro is currently $5.99 in the App Store and you can download it here
Joanne Carter
Joanne Carter is a British photography journalist, editor, curator, and the founder of *TheAppWhisperer.com*, one of the world’s leading platforms dedicated to mobile photography and art. Since its launch in 2009, TheAppWhisperer has become an international hub for artists of all levels to discover, learn, exhibit, and engage with contemporary photographic practice.Built on principles of inclusivity, accessibility, and artistic excellence, Joanne has spent almost two decades championing mobile photography as a serious artistic medium. Through interviews, critical essays, exhibitions, competitions, and education, she has helped shape and document the evolution of mobile art on a global scale.Her work has taken her internationally, lecturing on photography and mobile art at institutions and events including the Museum of Art in Seoul, South Korea, alongside appearances in the UK and Europe. She has served as a juror for international photography and mobile art awards across Portugal, Canada, the United States, South Korea, Italy, and the UK.Joanne is also the founder of *TheAppWhispererPrintSales.com*, one of the first online galleries dedicated exclusively to collectible mobile art, connecting artists with collectors across Europe, the United States, and Asia.Before founding TheAppWhisperer, Joanne worked extensively in print journalism and photographic publishing, including roles at a paparazzi photo agency and as deputy editor of a leading photography magazine. Her freelance journalism, criticism, and commentary have been published widely in both the UK and the US, with bylines in *The Times*, *The Sunday Times*, *The Guardian*, *Popular Photography*, *NikonPro*, *DPReview*, *Which?*, *Vogue Italia*, *LensCulture*, the *BBC*, and more recently, the *Financial Times*, where her published letters on photography continue to contribute to wider conversations around the medium.Alongside her editorial and curatorial work, Joanne’s own photographic practice has been exhibited internationally across the UK, Europe, South Korea, and the United States. Her work increasingly explores themes of grief, loss, death, memory, and the body.Her current research interests centre on grief, death, and poverty, with forthcoming postgraduate study leading towards doctoral research in these areas.Joanne is currently developing new long-form writing and photographic projects and is available for commissions, editorial projects, speaking engagements, and collaborations.Contact: joannetheappwhisperer@gmail.com)
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