Schurz Communications Selects iSites' Smartphone Application Platform to Build Rich Media Applications for Its Media Properties

LOS ALTOS, Calif., Dec. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- iSites (http://iSites.us), a Smartphone application network and mobile content management system, a division of GENWI, Inc., in an effort to help publishers tap into the mobile applications market, today announced a partnership with Schurz Communications, Inc.  With this partnership, iSites will work closely with several of Schurz's properties creating the applications for its television stations, radio stations and web properties.  Schurz will capitalize on iSites' rich set of app building features that allows for complete customization, real-time data analysis, a robust social layer that includes integration with Facebook, Twitter and blogs under each of the media properties' specific brands, active flexibility in revising apps, and the inherent benefit of monetization.

Schurz Communications is a nationwide communications company that serves medium to small markets throughout out the United States.  It owns and operates 2 cable companies, 11 daily newspapers, 10 television stations, 13 radio stations, and more than 25 news and information websites. The first of dozens of rich media apps released is the "Catch It Kansas" app (http://bit.ly/h3djo3) available for both iPhone and the Android markets.  CatchItKansas.com provides schedules, scores, game statistics, videos and photos of high school sports teams in Wichita, Kansas.  This new app takes advantage of iSites' sophisticated delivery of rich video content and distributes news and sports coverage directly into the hands of audiences, nationwide, through Smartphones.

"We are excited about our partnership with GENWI and the creation of apps through iSites," said Kerry Oslund, corporate vice-president of Digital Media at Schurz Communications. "With iSites, our TV, newspaper, radio, cable and pure-play digital brands can quickly build custom apps, track usage, continually update and improve content in a few easy steps. Among Schurz' core strengths is local high school sports and with iSites, we just launched the "CatchItKansas" app. The early feedback is terrific and we've seen hundreds of downloads in the first few days. Also, the social media features baked-into the app will provide new opportunities for our customers to connect with each other, as well as with our brands."

On iSites, publishers can easily design and create content just once, and with one-click publish an app to the Android Market, the Apple App Store, create an Instant App, that requires no App store submission, or publish to all three platforms. At a single consumption point, publishers can update information associated with their brand, display videos, photos, keep up with the conversation on Twitter and actively engage with their community through comments and feedback.

"It is predicted that 1-in-2 Americans will have a Smartphone by Christmas 2011.  The Mobile apps market is set to explode and iSites is positioned as the leader to help content publishers design their own custom apps and quickly bring them to market," said PJ Gurumohan, chief executive officer at GENWI.  "We are very proud of the fact that we have seen tremendous growth in creation of apps and huge adoption from millions of downloads, millions of views, and repeat usage through our iSites application network.  This partnership with Schurz Communications takes full advantage of our complete app making and content management solutions.  We are extremely upbeat about our momentum and the adoption of the iSites platform and expect to see our numbers and partnerships continue to grow."

iSites has enabled over 1000 publishers to create mobile applications for the iPhone and Android.  iSites allows anyone to create and self-manage custom branded Smartphone apps enabling users to design an application once, and publish it to multiple mobile platforms in one place.  In September 2010, iSites created "Instant Apps" enabled for iPhones, allowing any publisher to instantly distribute an app as soon as it is published, directly to Smartphones, free from the constraints governing acceptance to native app stores. Instant Apps are distributed through vanity URLs and do not require approvals. GENWI is pioneering off-the-shelf technology using HTML5 & Web Toolkit.

About Schurz Communications

Schurz Communications, Inc. is a diversified, privately owned, nationwide communications company. The company owns and operates two cable companies, eleven daily newspapers, ten television stations, 13 radio stations and more than 25 highly visited news and information websites. Its portfolio also includes weekly papers, shoppers, directories and commercial printing facilities. Schurz is dedicated to serving communities in medium and small markets across the USA. Schurz Communications, based in Mishawaka, Indiana, has media outlets in Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Virginia. Visit http://www.schurz.com/ for more information.

About GENWI

GENWI makes it possible for publishers to better engage, share and thrive with the new wireless generation. In January 2010, GENWI launched iSites, a Smartphone application network and mobile content management system allowing people to create and self-manage apps for iPhone and Android from a singular platform. With more than 1000 published Smartphone apps, including such apps as The Stanford Daily, Vans Hub, TNA Wrestling, and Arizona PBS Horizon, iSites Smartphone application network provides the ultimate platform enabling easy-to-use tools for application creation and seamless multi-platform distribution.  Founded in 2010, GENWI is privately held and based in Los Altos, California.  Visit http://isites.us for more information.

SOURCE GENWI, Inc.