Jude 2

I have T-bone tastes and a hamburger budget! I've been googling all over tonight dreaming of a way to inexpensively create our own local church smartphone app.

It's expensive.

I don't want a smart-phone friendly webpage, but a legit app available for free on the iTunes/Android app stores. Here are some possibilities...

General info
Streaming video of services
Online donations via Paypal
Interactive map to our office, 2 ministry centers and meeting location
Directory of Small Groups, with contact links, maps to locations, etc.
Daily devotion RSS feed
YouVersion Event link for each week's message

...my mental gears are spinning.

I am interested, too. You can get a basic app done for about $500, as you know, and that probably does a bit less than you are looking at doing. I want one for Radical U. Put up curriculum, YouVersion link, some teaching, etc.

BTW, our church just purchased a nice used Canon XHA-1 HD video camera. We videotaped the old pastor who spoke at homecoming this past Sunday. Pastor uploaded it to website and the thing is really crisp. Now, he is looking at best way to stream live. Excited about that.

I went to a presentation a few years back on development of apps, and it's not very difficult programming. There are a few tools that are needed, ever think of encouraging someone technical in your church to learn it and maybe purchase the tools and a little training for them? It would probably be cheaper than having a custom app built, and could also further a young technician in their career or even a side business, opening up some new doors.