Barack Obama’s campaign has developed a new iPhone application that makes use of the iPhone’s social networking attributes.
According to the campaign’s Website, the application uses the iPhone’s network connection to deliver updated information on the campaign. For instance, by identifying the user’s location, it can provide the nearest Obama campaign office as well as identify Obama events in the area. Also, after a user opens the application, it displays the user’s caller list state by state. If the user is watching closely contested areas, he or she can select friends in battleground or swing states and call them, urging them to vote for Obama. The application tracks who has been called and who needs to be contacted again.
The application’s location-specific features could be used by any group that wants to recruit new members or perform outreach.
In August, the Obama campaign tried to notify supporters of his vice presidential pick via SMS. However, the short message campaign only delivered in about 50% of the instance.
Obama ’08 is available at Apple’s App Store and works with iPhone 3G, the original iPhone and iPod touch. It requires iPhone 2.0 Software Update.
