Condé Nast launches apps for BlackBerry PlayBook

The company will monetise the apps through content sponsorships.

The Indian arm of the US-based publishing house, Condé Nast, has rolled out two new applications named 'Vogue Stylist' and Condé Nast India Traveller 'The Luxury Guide to India' for the recently launched tablet, BlackBerry PlayBook.

The 'Vogue Stylist' app will enable users to search for latest fashion trend updates of the season. The app will also allow users to figure out the style followed by a particular celebrity, and search 'looks' they can have for particular occasions such as work, date, casual or vacation. Based on the occasion, they will be asked to select their body type and colour preference (of the dress they would like to wear). Apart from that, the users can ask and submit their style-related questions to Vogue Style experts on the app.

The Luxury Guide to India app will help users to discover places they can visit. To begin with, the app will offer travel details for about 18 locations such as Mumbai, Goa, Kochi, Delhi and Bengaluru. The app will offer details such as maps of the cities, the places where the users can stay, eat, drink and shop, and the things they can do in the particular city. The app uses the GPS functionality of the tablet computer to suggest places they can visit, or nearby hotels and restaurants, based on the location of the user.

The company will make available these PlayBook apps on the BlackBerry apps store (Appworld.blackberry.com) for free. These apps will also be offered to BlackBerry phone users as well.

Maya Hari, director, digital, Condé Nast India, says, "Both our applications have been designed to be interactive and authoritative guides to lifestyle essentials, be it your travel aspirations with The Luxury Guide to India or personalised style tips from Vogue Stylist. Both applications aim to bring Vogue and Condé Nast Traveller India closer to their affluent and discerning digital audience."

Condé Nast will monetise both apps via sponsorships. It has already roped in Ford Motors as sponsor for 'The Luxury Guide to India' app.

Apart from 'Vogue Stylist' and 'The Luxury Guide to India', the media company also owns two other apps -- a BlackBerry app for GQ or Gentlemen's Quarterly (the men's magazine which focusses on fashion and culture) and an iPad app named Vogue 365. It also owns iPad editions of its Vogue, GQ and Condé Nast Traveller magazines.