Bushrangers launch iPhone app in Australian first
Thu, 18 February 2010
The DEC Bushrangers today launched their own official team iPhone application becoming the first sporting team in Australia to do so. Joining the ranks of premier sporting clubs from around the globe such as Arsenal, Real Madrid, the New York Rangers and the New England Patriots - the Bushrangers are the only Australian sporting team to be in this elite company. Cricket Victoria's and the DEC Bushrangers' release of the Official Victorian Bushrangers' iPhone application for Season 2009/10 symbolizes a giant step forward in the technological world for domestic cricket. The application will allow Bushrangers fans to enjoy domestic cricket anywhere - with the latest news and exclusive behind the scenes videos at their fingertips, as well as fixtures, standings and player biographies. Cricket Victoria's Chief Executive Officer Tony Dodemaide believes the launch of the Bushrangers own team application is the next step in connecting with their growing fan base. "We want to create a quality fan experience that extends beyond just a game at the MCG and reaches across the world," he said. "This year we've reached out to a new demographic online through web 2.0 and social media channels, so developing an iPhone application was the next logical step. "The Bushrangers team and players are now exposed worldwide through the Champions League and the IPL, so we need to be able to connect with the fans wherever they are in the world." Dodemaide said Cricket Victoria and the DEC Bushrangers are continually striving to be the leading cricket state in Australia for initiatives both on-and-off the field but also needed to be able to compete with Australia's competitive sporting market. "For a domestic cricket side to be the first professional sporting team in Australia to implement this tool is a massive step, and shows we are leading our competitors from the AFL, NRL and other codes," he said. After embarking on a successful journey into the social media and online world during the 2009/10 season, the Bushrangers' website, Facebook and Twitter pages reach more than 20,000 fans via these three platforms. Apple sold close to 39 million iPhone's globally at the end of 2009, confirming it as one of the most popular choices in mobile phones and ensuring vast scope for the Bushrangers team to further connect with a global audience. The new found interest in the team was highlighted during the recent KFC Twenty20 Big Bash series, where over 70,000 people watched the Bushrangers in their two home matches at the MCG.
