New iPhone application for Edinburgh festival-goers

Published Tuesday 4 August 2009 at 12:57 by Lalayn Baluch

Full coverage of the Edinburgh Festivals

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Festivals Edinburgh have launched a new iPhone application to help visitors navigate their way around the events.

The Edinburgh Festivals Guide, developed in partnership with new technology firm Loc8 Solutions, is the only official application that carries full listings for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, International Festival, Jazz and Blues Festival, Art Festival, Book Festival, Mela and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

It will enable visitors to browse shows, check ticket offers, read reviews and plot their routes around the city.

Kath Mainland, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, said: “This is an exciting new festivals listings service for our visitors, performers and venues on the iPhone.

“This application gives us a unique opportunity to broaden the delivery of our Festival listings services and reach new audiences. We are especially pleased that we have been able to partner with Loc8 Solutions, a dynamic young local company in leading the way with this new technology.”

An estimated 100,000 iPhone users are expected to attend arrive in Edinburgh this month for the festivals.

Loc 8 Solutions is a start-up company from the Edinburgh Pre-Incubator Scheme – a joint development programme between the University of Edinburgh, Scottish Enterprise and the European Regional Development Fund.

The application is the brainchild of Gavin Dutch, founder of Loc8, who began developing the technology in his bedroom in early 2008.

Dutch said: “It’s great to have our first major contract with the fringe and Festivals Edinburgh.

“There’s so much happening in Edinburgh during August that it’s easy to be overwhelmed by choice. The Edinburgh Festivals Guide will take some of the pressure off, by allowing users to find out what’s going on down the road and read audience reviews.”