Introducing the Kickstarter App for iPhone and iPod Touch
We're excited to announce that the first official Kickstarter app launched in the iTunes Store this morning! It's available for iPhone and iPod Touch, it's free, and you can download it here. — The app is a whole new way to experience Kickstarter.
Context & Ripple Effects
Kickstarter's 2012 UK launch extended the crowdfunding service beyond its original market; the iPhone and iPod Touch app puts an official Kickstarter experience on devices where media and web services were already building dedicated apps, including YouTube's iPhone app.
The move matters because Kickstarter is adding a mobile entry point to a platform whose value depends on project discovery and participation, rather than relying solely on its website.
First-order effects
- iPhone and iPod Touch users gain a free, official way to access Kickstarter through the iTunes Store, expanding Kickstarter's distribution on Apple devices.
Second-order effects
- Project creators gain another route to reach potential backers as Kickstarter's UK expansion and iOS presence broaden the service's available audience and access points.
Third-order effects
- Crowdfunding platforms are moving toward native mobile access as a core distribution layer, making app-store presence part of how they compete for attention and participation.
The trend: Online platforms are extending browser-based communities into native mobile apps to make discovery and engagement available wherever users carry their devices.