Location: Irvine, CA
Notable apps: Chad Ochocinco (free), Chad Ochocinco HD (free), Runpee Mobile (free), Jared Allen (free), Floyd Mayweather, Terrell Owens (free)
Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Android
Specialty genres: Games, Sports, Entertainment
Company size: 10+
Short description of company : Rock Software develops mobile apps for the iPhone, iPad and Android devices. We specialize in working with high profile clientele. We take pride in the relationship we build with each and every client we support. A key to our success is in the collaborative effort of our Rock Software team and the individual client we are developing for. Through these effort we have proven to create interesting, entertaining, informative, useful and simply fun applications for all mobile platforms. Currently available are official apps for Chad Ochocinco, Mark Cuban, Jared Allen and Floyd Mayweather. We have also developed the RunPee Mobile app, which gives users the best time to use the restroom during a movie. For more information on Rock Software visit rocksoftware.com or on Twitter at twitter.com/RockSoftware.
How did you and your firm get into the iPhone/mobile app development business?
I was sitting in my living room with my brother Sam and buddy Jordan (Palmer) and we all just got iPhones but couldn’t find any good apps to download. My brother came across the RunPee.com site and contacted the owner to make their site mobile and create the app. Jordan plays for the Bengals and when he went to camp that summer and came across Ochocinco & Ocho asked “why are you making apps like this and not a real app like one for me?” Pretty much history from there.
In your opinion, how has the iPhone and Apple’s iTunes App Store changed the media industry?
Its giving the people an instant connection to EVERYTHING that they need. At anytime, I can grab my iPhone and either check Twitter for news, check in on the office, edit a picture that I just took, check on my teams, see what time it is in London or what the weather is like in Vegas. Although there is more than that, we want to give people even more.
What factors go into how you ultimately price your apps?
It can vary but usually what it costs us to make, if it’s done at a good cost, then no need to charge, the ads will pay for it.
Describe what your dream app for the iPhone/iPad would look like.
A video game with all of our Rock Software clients in one. 1 level you play football with Chad, Terrell and Jared, another level you play horse w/ Carmelo and Dwight, another level you box Floyd or Mike Tyson and the whole object of the game is to raise money to start your business. Mark Cuban would be your consultant and the music of the game would be by Fabolous, Ludacris and DJ Irie. I just made all of this up right now, it might be a good idea?
