I am currently near the end of creating an iOS application that focuses on making it easier for students at my University to check the bus timetable. The timetable is only available either at the bus stops, or online as a difficult to read PDF document. Most bus stops aren't even covered, but my application estimates them from distance and time measurements. Furthermore I've pinned down every bus stop on the route by parsing OpenStreetMap. These bus stops are not available anywhere else (and especially not with any times associated with them).<p>Some screenshots are available here:
https://i.freeih.com/7278/iphone_screenshot.png
https://i.freeih.com/7279/iphone_screenshot_3.png<p>How would you go about monetizing such an application, if at all possible? Obviously, it will never make much, but pocket money would be pretty awesome, no one has paid me for my apps before.<p>My ideas:
- Fully free app with ads. The ads would come from reaching out to local student centric businesses (student lettings agencies, pubs, bars, clubs etc) and possibly including student offers via the app.
- Free basic version with iOS ads, pro version without ads + added features such as reminders<p>I wish to pursue the first idea as it sounds interesting to go and talk to these businesses and see what they think. Any advice?
Make the app then license or sell it to the bus company? I am in the exact same boat, at my university. Actually, a couple years ago I started making an iOS app too for bus timetables but never finished because after a couple months of development google added the city's routes to google maps. Does google maps not have your city's routes? I'd be interested in helping out.<p>Also I thought that was one screenshot linked and I got this: "<a href="https://i.freeih.com/7278/iphone_screenshot.png%20https://i.freeih.com/7279/iphone_screenshot_3.png"" rel="nofollow">https://i.freeih.com/7278/iphone_screenshot.png%20https://i....</a> and was quite confused...
I accidentally copied and pasted the two URLs together (I didnt realize there were to URLs). It loaded a handgun, weird. "<a href="https://i.freeih.com/7278/iphone_screenshot.png" rel="nofollow">https://i.freeih.com/7278/iphone_screenshot.png</a> <a href="https://i.freeih.com/7279/iphone_screenshot_3.png"" rel="nofollow">https://i.freeih.com/7279/iphone_screenshot_3.png"</a>
Oh man, I am in the VERY same situation as You!
(for ref :<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=fr.lengrand.brestram" rel="nofollow">https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=fr.lengrand.br...</a>)
I am thinking about starting to add ads too this very morning :).<p>Definitely bookmarking this!
Offer the source code for the app to others looking to develop similar applications. Doesn't have to be a lot of $ and you could include N (say 5) hours of customization for a $250 or $500 license fee.