Apr 19 2013

Microsoft’s new operating system for mobile devices, Windows 8, was launched just a few months ago. But that’s exactly the kind of new challenges which stimulate our developerse! That’s why a team of Emakina’s mobile experts participated in Microsoft’s Superhackathon competition.

The Superhackathon brought hundreds of young and bright developers who worked simultaneously in four different locations across the country. Their goal was one: create the best Windows 8 app! Unfortunately, only one team can go home with the first prize. Fortunately, it was us…! First, our team won the first place in Mons. Then came the real big news: First place at the national finals went to Emakina’s Fit beast.

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Jun 27 2012

Have you ever had to buy medicines, consult a doctor or go to a hospital when abroad?
And did you know how to use your Health Insurance Card properly?

Emakina created a handy app for the European Commission to help travelers when abroad.

This smartphone app ensures stress-free travel this summer. Just in time for the holidays, the EURO 2012 Football Championship and the London 2012 Olympics, the European Commission launched this tool for smartphones, explaining how to use the European Health Insurance Card. The app is now available on iOS, Android and Windows 7 mobile.

In 31 European countries, the Health Insurance Card gives people access to state-provided healthcare in case of illness or an accident during travel and temporary stays. Differences among healthcare systems may make it sometimes difficult to figure out how to use the Card in various countries and what the local rules are. With this handy application, you now can learn how to use the Card in in the 27 EU countries, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Very useful information
The application includes general information about the card, emergency phone numbers, treatments that are covered and costs, how to claim reimbursement and who to contact in case you have lost your card.

It is available in 24 languages, with the option to switch from one language to another. This way, you can find an information screen in your language and then show it in the language of the person you are talking to while on holidays. A practical and useful tool.

Emakina and the European Commission also worked together on the media relations for the application.
Over 2000 journalists across Europe discovered the app, with articles appearing both in print and online media. And now the app belongs to the public: already over 24.000 downloads were registered after the first weeks it is available.

On behalf of Emakina and the European Commission let us say: Happy summer holidays and bon voyage!

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Jun 22 2012

Emakina’s Bavaria Babes smartphone app lets football fans become “international players” by collecting pictures of themselves with attractive women. Football never looked prettier.

Emakina created a new Bavaria app that encourages football fans to collect images of themselves posing next to scantily clad women, through a new free smartphone app on Android and Apple iOS. The Bavaria Babes App, a promotion for the European 2012 Football Championship, offers admirers of the beautiful game a contemporary version of collecting football cards – the chance to mock up pictures with a team of 11 beautiful women

The Dutch beer company’s promotion uses the latest technology and social media networks, and was created by European digital agency Emakina. People download a special app for their smartphones and are then challenged to “unlock the team of European Bavaria babes and take pictures with them to prove your international player status.

One woman – Laurine, who represents Spain, where they “eat, sleep and drink football” – is included with the download. There are three images of her which can be moved from left to right, enlarged or reduced, and combined with a picture which is then taken on the smartphone. This image is automatically stored on the “player’s” phone, and can be uploaded to social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Flickr.

The other 10 women represent most of the nations playing in Euro 2012 and can be “unlocked” by scanning QR codes hidden on Bavaria beer and the Bavaria social media pages. There is an element of football devilry, since tackling one woman might require others to be “scored” first, like a row of defenders.

Tim Wolfs, Head of Interactive at Emakina, says : “Bavaria was looking for a way to get visibility in a fun way during the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine 2012. “As soccer fans, we were inspired by the stunt with the Bavaria babes during the World Championship in South Africa.

Secondly, we wanted to make use of technology that allows you to make funny pictures with Bavaria elements integrated. Last but not least, as little boys, we had a lot of fun by collecting the Panini stickers of the soccer players. Combining the babes with new technology, the little boy fun of collecting, and the beer brand Bavaria, we’ve scored a winner with the Bavaria Babes App: the gadget for the EC 2012. We have already had a lot of fun making this app, and we are looking forward to the reaction of the soccer fans.”

Daniel Janus, Global Internet Manager at Bavaria who came up with the initial idea of the app, says the lighthearted app is being launched in the Balkan countries, the UK and Australia: “We wanted to try new techniques to see if we could adapt them for a bigger event. This is a fun app – there’s no need to buy products. It is just to engage customers with Bavaria.

“We are known for our ‘babes’, but always in a way that isn’t offensive towards others. It’s a thin line, but we try not to cross it by being vulgar. We use Bavaria babes to promote parties in the Balkans, and they are friendly, well-spoken and classy.”

Laurine Meyers, 25, a full time model from Antwerp, and a Holland supporter, said that the experience of being “unlocked” by hundreds of Bavaria drinkers, could certainly add some spice to her internet profile if the pictures are posted. “I’m not sure what my father would think of the variety of young gentlemen I appear to be photographed with, but it’s a lot of fun and in the spirit of friendly football.”

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Mar 1 2012

Thanks to the new Emakina-developed mobile App, launched today at the Batibouw fair, Electrabel customers can now follow their energy consumption and expenses using any smartphone or tablet device. What’s even more exciting about the new App is that users can use it to switch on and off their home appliances. So on your next vacation, while sunbathing on a tropical island; you could easily verify if you have left your electric heating on before leaving your home. Or while at work, you could check whether your innocent-looking pet is not throwing a huge house party every time you are out (as brilliantly suggested in the new service’s ad).

But wait! If you’re on vacation, or busy at work you probably have other things to do than checking your energy consumption five times a day. We, at Electrabel and at Emakina, also thought about those with less time to spare. The new service can automatically send you an SMS or an email whenever irregular energy consumption is spotted. This way, if you really did leave your heating on before catching your plane, you will be notified right away, and not by discovering your next monthly bill…!

As a longstanding digital partner of Electrabel, this is the third mobile App we have developed for the Belgian energy provider. We are also highly involved in Electrabel’s website development; web communication; mobile and personalised applications. Our high level of mutual trust allowed us to even come up with a multiple-player tablet game which we offered visitors at the Batibouw fair to play simultaneously on a giant screen.

What makes this product so unique is that it goes further in redefining home automation technology. The App can produce separate statistical analysis on each appliance’s consumption, displayed per hour, day, month, or year! This is of real economic value for responsible consumers who try to lower their energy consumption and their consequent expenses. These are smart features, but above all we made sure the App is so easy to use that even your grandmother could get addicted to it.

The new App is already available for iPhones, Androids, and three other platforms. An iPad version is being developed and will be available shortly. To read more or order your own Smart energy box, check out the Electrabel website.

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Feb 16 2012

The combined positive energy of Electrabel, Group GDF SUEZ and Emakina truly starts to create communication sparks. Electrabel launched its new consumer website, introduced a new version of the Electrabel Energy Manager and produced a practical new mobile application for this Energy Manager service.  All ‘signed’ Emakina.

Electrabel, the first energy provider in Belgium, is a long-standing client of Emakina. About one year ago, a new pitch was launched and Emakina came out of this contest as the winner: the agency was named preferred supplier of Electrabel. New in this relationship was that the mission would include social and mobile media, besides web activities.

• Energy Manager

Electrabel helps its customers to reduce their energy consumption and environmental impact. So it wanted to offer its customers a new service that could make them true partners in this valuable effort. The Energy Manager allows them to fine-tune their energy actions and reduce gas and electricity consumption.

In the application, customers fill in their gas and electricity consumption. They then receive a clear analysis, with state-of-the-art bar charts and graphs indicating their energy history. They can also opt for data in a list format, of course. This information is the starting point for improved energy management, with a coaching support, offering practical tips and insights.

The Electrabel Energy Manager is also available on iPhone and Android. It targets both residential and small office/home office clients. For users on the move, the Energy Manager app is the perfect addition to the Energy Manager website.

• Spreading the word

Emakina is also the partner for Electrabel’s web activation campaigns, including promotion and bannering actions. The campaign now starting will highlight the launch of the new online application for residential customers. It will also introduce the other mobile applications, Electrabel Mobile and Electrabel Energy Manager for Professionals. Banners in different formats are placed on key Belgian portals and news websites. Objective is to generate traffic to the different Electrabel websites and apps. The tools are really handy and valuable, so this promotion really is worth the energy!

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Nov 24 2011

Over half a million apps to choose from…which ones would be smart to upload to your smartphone or tablet?

In their latest issue, Knack and Le Vif magazines present the Top Applications for smartphones and tablets in the Belgian market. Belgium being the complex market it is, the list of course is different in the Dutch and the French version…

Out of the jury of five members two experts came out of  Emakina Group companies. Emakina’s Chief Visionary Officer Brice Le Blévennec felt right at home in helping to create this special. Mobile Competence Center Manager Thomas De Vos from the Reference in Ghent also let his light shine on the mobile apps.

So with their colleagues they went to work and made a list of criteria, a selection of categories and then each added their favorites.

Our mobile experts  shared their knowledge in this large constantly evolving field of different kinds of Operating Systems : iOS (iPad, iPhone), Android, Symbian (Nokia), Windows or RIM (Blackberry).

Thomas De Vos of the Internet company The Reference says an app must be to the point, relevant and fun. Also, it should avoid superfluous functions.”Keep it simple; when you start it up you have to be able to do right away what it was made for. App makers tend to pile on functions with updates, but these should stick to the essence of the application.”

The list combines international favorites such as Flipboard, Foursquare, Dropbox and Plants vs Zombies with local gold, like TV Overal, Radio.be, Resto.be, KBC banking, Taxis Verts and Electrabel.

Wether you are ‘the connected senior executive’, ‘the organized teacher’ or ‘the active retired person’, wether you’re living a business Lifestyle, interested in entertainment or food, the two specials guide you to the must have apps.

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