WV Executive

InThePanhandle.com, a news and information website in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia announces the launch of the first iPhone / iPod Touch app dedicated to the three counties of eastern West Virginia.

The InThePanhandle.com App, named ITP for short, is an extension of the complete InThePanhandle.com website and features news, events, coupons, restaurant menus, pictures, local business listings and a directory of local products.

The dedicated app provides an efficient, streamlined way for users to stay up to date with the most important information on InThePanhandle.com while they are on the go. "While viewing InThePanhandle.com in a mobile browser, like mobile Safari, provides a rich experience that is identical to that found in a traditional web browser, we wanted to give users a way to access that information quickly." says Brad Hopkins.

"Additionally, some features - like restaurant menus and coupons - are better suited and more valuable on a mobile device because they allow users to explore, discover and save money while on the go."

Usage statistics was the key factor in choosing the iPhone platform for development of our first dedicated application. The iPhone and iPod Touch are the top two mobile devices used to visit InThePanhandle.com making up over 80% of all mobile traffic.

The InThePanhandle.com iPhone / iPod Touch App (currently v1.1), is a free download and can be found at http://bit.ly/itp_app or by searching ITP in the iTunes app store.

Launched in 2006, InThePanhandle.com started as a directory of eastern WV businesses and organizations. The site has grown to include local news, events, local video, restaurant menus, online coupons, and a local shopping directory, in addition to the original business directory which now includes over 2200 local businesses.

InThePanhandle.com has taken a non-traditional approach to news and event coverage by allowing users to directly submit news via a news submission form or by creating a user account. This democratization of information has allowed news items that may only receive limited coverage in traditional media outlets to receive the coverage that those interested feel it deservers.

Additionally, InThePanhandle.com allows for an event to be covered by multiple sources, in multiple formats (written word, video and still photography) to give readers an in-depth look at local news and events.