We've had a lot of internal discussion regarding app cost.

It is true that a significant part of our goal is to expose BPL to new people. But it is also true that we want to provide a better online experience for anyone, including current members. We have considered giving the app away for free, and we may try it. However, if you look at what has worked for other iPhone apps, the free app model has mixed results. Sure, many more people will download the app if it is free. But that does not necessarily translate into more people who are really interested in the content, or more long term growth. It's a delicate balance, and one we will likely experiment with. Of course, as a small company, we also have to consider short term costs too - we are not the NY Times.

We have also considered giving app buyers a coupon that could be used to recover the app cost at the BPL store. That way current members could recover their $3, and new members would get $3 off a full membership. We'd be interested to hear your comments on that approach.

Just do two apps, one limited features BPL App Lite for free, and one full-featured paid app. That's what a lot of app developers do to promote their paid apps. The free app will have the added benefit of allowing potential buyers to try out the app first to see if they want to spend the money on a paid app. One of the problems with iPhone apps is that you don't know what you're getting until you pay for it, and very often the app does not live up to its hype. This will also push you to develop an app that is worthwhile.

I'd also encourage you to contact the developers of relevant apps (like GPS apps, map apps, compass apps, Star Walk and Starmap Pro, iBird, Knot Huide, etc)., and try to find a way to coordinate all of them so that all of you promote one another, such as to have links to each of the participating apps with each app. Another BIG problem with the App Store is that there are so many apps that most of them get buried under the sheer numbers and are obscured by the popular apps. So even if a fantastic app is waiting somewhere people may never find it. The App Store's navigation setup is awful. If you could find a way to get a group that would help one another promote each other you'd be noticed and people would buy your app.

Edited by butuki on 03/04/2010 07:09:11 MST.

We have also considered giving app buyers a coupon that could be used to recover the app cost at the BPL store. That way current members could recover their $3, and new members would get $3 off a full membership. We'd be interested to hear your comments on that approach.

I like this idea. For me at least. The only drawback is that for people who are new to the scene might not want to invest the $2.99 just to see if it's interesting to them or not.

Perhaps a BPL Lite and BPL Pro version should be released. The Lite would have limited access to gear reviews and such. The Pro version would have full forum access and cost $2.99.

EDIT - I just read the above post. Seems we are on the same page. Great minds think alike. ;)

Edited by Junction on 03/04/2010 07:07:20 MST.

I would prefer the app lite and pro app preference. For those members overseas $3 in the store means >$30 in postage.

So a $3 one time fee to get access to everything as its published and a $25 annual fee to get access to the archives?

I don't believe this is a viable sales model. I could just save an archive of the site, drop my membership, and use the iphone app. And it would be much cheaper. So now the value of a long term membership is basically nil.

The iphone is just another access method, and one that has become significantly popular that content providers can't ignore it. But the value is in the content which members have already payed for. Charging independently for each access method is a sales model that has not worked.

P.S. The coupon thing doesn't change the fundamental problem with this approach.

Is it out yet, didn't see it in "shop"

Can't wait

I currently spend a lot of time on my HTC Incredible scrolling through the pages of BPL. I would spend the $2.99 for the app if it were to work on my HTC.

+1 for the HTC Incredible. A droid friend app shouldn't be that far off once you figure out how you want the navigation to work on a small screen like the iPhone.

What's updated/expected iPhone app date anyway? Did it make it out in April?

+1 Android.

So now that it's legal to unlock your iPhones, I went out and got a 16GB 3GS for my T-Mobile line. I was searching the common backpacking threads for useful apps and saw this one. I immediately got very excited reading the top posts, only to find that it pretty much fizzled towards the end.

Is there any plan to release the BPL app anytime soon? I'd love to add it.

Hmmm.... posted 2 weeks ago and still no response... I guess not.

Hi Mark,

We're in the process of putting the finishing touches on the App this month, testing in September, and hopefully a release in October, or whenever Apple gives their final approval.

Best,
Ryan

What ever happened regarding the mobile apps? Unless my search is wrong, not finding any for either iPhone or iPad? Please advise, thank you.

Eric

My guess is that was one of the first things to get scrapped at the very start of the "restructuring" process BPL was going through in 2011-12.

Finances seemed to be a big issue for a while, and BPL had to refocus their energy on sustaining the business. Things like the app were expendable.

But, this is all conjecture on my part. Just a guess.

Please come forward with the App. My computer died a year ago and I replaced it with an iPad. Without having a computer, the only way I can post pictures is to borrow a friends computer. Which I'm not to fond of doing.

I just posted two pictures in one post from my iPad mini over in the test forum using Safari. Worked without an issue.

Thanks Doug. I swear I tried uploading a picture about a year ago and it didn't work. Maybe it's iOS 6 that does it? Or just me being dumb.

Hey Josh, not you being dumb. You're correct, it didn't used to work. I didn't realize that it did now until you made your post, then I decided to try it again. Probably was iOS6 that fixed/changed something.