Official vBulletin iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch app released

Here is a basic FAQ for vBulletin's mobile applications.
This FAQ will be updated.

Basics
What is it?
The product that will be available is an "app builder", it allows you to build an iPhone app for your vBulletin website

Can I try it out?
Sure. (This is for vBulletin.com... We will have one for General-Forums.com when available.)

What Apple platforms are you going to support?
Apple devices running on iOS 3.1.3+ (older versions may work fine - no promises though . )
This means, iPad, iPod touch, iPhone 3 & 4

What non-Apple platforms are you going to support?
We are currently working on an Android app builder with similar functionality. Other platforms may be added too depending on market-share and their ability to support the basic vBulletin functionality.

I have a symbian/Blackberry/windows mobile, will you support me?

We are working on a mobile skin which will support a broader range of mobile devices.

Will it be free for using on my site?
In a word, no.

Ok, how much will it be?
Pricing will be announced soon.

When will it be available?
Soon

Will 1 app work across multiple vBulletin forums?
End users will need a separate app for each site.

What versions of vBulletin will it work with?
vB4 - 4.0.9+
vB3 - 3.8

I have found a bug in the app!
Great! We would appreciate it if you could report it here

Is the app reflective of what I will be able to purchase.
Yes. We are still developing it, but it will be mostly constrained to bug fixing.

Does vBulletin at any point touch any of my data through this app?
No. Because this is an app for YOUR site, API's from your site will interface directly with the end users device, meaning no middle-man (unlike other options available) and much less possibility of security vulnerabilities.


Customization for my site
This app is great - but it is called vBulletin! What if I want it called apple-bobbing forums?
You can . We will build the app for your website, including a number of customization points, like name, color scheme etc.

If I buy it will I be able to sell it to my users?
We don't have that functionality in the app currently (as we would be the app publishers, we would have to collect the money on your behalf and remit it back to you... and it makes it all a little complicated)

Will I be able to run advertising through it?
Yes.

 

Brandon does this mean you will be making one for GF soon?

I haven't read too much about it, but know vB released it a few days ago.

 

Hrm looks like IB is looking to make money off of our end users now. I'll stick with TapaTalk thank you very much.

 

Ya someone told me they are charging. And honestly.. IB has already made quite a lot recently.

Maybe they should make it free to suite owners only? Just an idea....

 

Actually the only person inet would make money off of is the admins the setup it up for their sites. Those admins can either give the app away for free or charge for the app, the admins could also ad advertising in it as well.

I think the app will be a couple hundred dollars, if so then I'll defiantly get it for GF. You can brand it to your site, it's in the apple app store as "your site".

I've known about this app for a few months now, I was really looking forward to playing around with it.

I think it's better then tapatalk or forumrunner because we'll be able to moderate our forums from the app.

 

Thanks Brandon, I misread. I read it as they would be submitting it to the app store on your behalf and directly charging the end user for it.

 

They (iNet) will be the ones submitting it and updating the app, but it's up to the admin if they want to charge, give it away and/or ad banners in the app and the admin would get any revenue generated off the app.

 

That may be true, but if the price and costs are high. I'm sure people would rather stick with tapatalk.

 

well a similar option from tapatalk cost $999
and I don't think that has moderation tools, or blogs, or article reading/posting..
If vBulletin's version is under $300, they'll do well.

 

an update....
vBulletin Mobile applications pricing and timing

Update:

You may be aware we recently made available an iPhone application on vBulletin.com.

Here are some further details on the applications.

I wanted to share with you some further details.


Pricing
The branded applications will initially be priced at $199 for the package. This will involve a $100 up front setup fee, and a $99 12 month update/support fee.
The regular price of the branded applications will be $299 ($200 setup fee + $99 annual).
The 12 month update/support fee will cover technical support for that period as well as updates to the applications we may make, and access to additional mobile options/applications we may develop (initially it will be iPhone and Android). Think of it in the same way that vBulletin 3 series licensing used to work.


Timing
We are aiming to have the applications available mid first quarter 2011.
We have already done testing on vbulletin.com and some other vBulletin 3.7 sites, such as FlyerTalk and 6speedonline. We are also going to be testing with a number of other instances prior to the product being available. We will also have a demo app that will work with your site for 3 days so you can trial the application prior to purchase.

We anticipate having the Android variant on vbulletin.com sometime in January for you to test out.

If you are a licensed customer, you are welcome to provide feedback on these items here

Thanks,
Adrian ​

 

I'll be sticking with Tapatalk for now as that's what most of my members use already.

 

That's what we currently use here.
I've been thinking about trying http://www.forumrunner.net out.
I've been told that their branded app is 350$ vs the 300$ from inet.
The thing I like is that forumrunner has been working on their app for a while, I'm not sure it you can access the cms and blog pages.

 

I did a quick search and only found one post regarding the CMS or Blog so registered and asked about the suite. Hopefully someone will get back to me.

http://www.forumrunner.net/forum/showthread.php?t=163&highlight=blogs

---------- Post added at 07:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:47 PM ----------

The word is in...

CMS yes, Blogs no.