Loadshedding apps top downloads

Published May 21, 2015

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You’d be mistaken for thinking the most popular apps in the country would be the ever-favoured Facebook, Instagram or BBM.

But think again – two out of three of the most downloaded free iPhone apps are load-shedding schedule and alert apps. They are only beaten out of first place by WhatsApp – the most popular application in the world, according to App Annie, a data and mobile analytics website.

The two load-shedding apps have overtaken Facebook Messenger and Facebook, which are now in fourth and fifth place respectively.

Of the free apps, EskomSePush is in second place. The name of the app is a play on words for a well-known Cape Flats insult, and the app enables users to choose from over 50 000 areas to get load-shedding push notifications and predictions.

In third place is the Loadshedding – Notification and schedule for Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban area app.

 

Claire Booty of App Annie said the index was reporting the app store free rankings and was determined by downloads rather than usage. “EskomSePush entered the top five on May 18 and Loadshedding returned to the top five in May. (It) has been there a few times since (its) launch earlier this year,” she said.

The creators of EskomSePush, Herman Maritz and Dan Wells, who are based in Stellenbosch, predicted that their app would surpass WhatsApp. Maritz said the pair created the app a month ago and it has so far been downloaded 50 000 times.

“For us, the app was about meeting a need. About a month ago we saw that apps made for load shedding were really not that great.

We are trying to make this the best load-shedding app. We’re also looking to secure funding as it grows.

“People are negative about load shedding. They’re always complaining and we’re giving them something to stop complaining.” – Cape Times

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