The first official Playboy iPhone App has just been released through iTunes. However, it may only appeal to anyone who claims to buy Playboy ‘for the articles,’ as there are no scantily clad girls.
To me this Playboy iPhone App launch is odd coming from a men’s entertainment magazine, for the simple reason that Playboy and nude women go together like a horse and carriage. And from the sound of some of the reviews I read, the articles aren’t even that good.
Misleading Mobile Apps
The Playboy iPhone App Features Only Articles
Trend Themes
1. Article-only Mobile Apps - The trend of releasing mobile apps that cater to specific needs, like only providing articles instead of photos, can appeal to certain niche markets.
2. Brand Diversification - Companies can explore opportunities for expanding their brand identity by exploring additional product offerings that could appeal to a new customer base.
3. Shift to Content Only - The shift to content-only experiences in industries where visual content is usually prominent can offer new opportunities for companies to delight customers.
Industry Implications
1. Publishing - The publishing industry could explore opportunities by catering to audiences that value written content over visual content through mobile apps.
2. Entertainment - The entertainment industry, which typically involves visual content, could create experiences for their audience that are focused solely on written content.
3. Brand Licensing - Companies that have established brand identities, like Playboy, can explore licensing opportunities to expand their audience reach through products that are different from their existing offerings.