Obama releases iPhone recruiting, campaign tool

(Credit: CNET News)

Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign launched an iPhone application on Thursday that turns the vaunted device into a political recruiting tool.

The most notable feature "organizes and prioritizes your contacts by key battleground states, making it easy to reach out and make an impact quickly," according to the software.

On my phone, the application ranked contacts in Colorado, Michigan, and New Mexico at the top; at the bottom was a friend whose cell phone has a Texas number, though she actually lives in California.

The application anonymously reports back the number of calls made this way: "Your privacy is important: no personal data or contacts will be uploaded or stored. Only the total number of calls you make is uploaded anonymously."

The software is the latest effort by politicians to capitalize on technology, joining other examples such as ads distributed through YouTube, Web-based fund-raising, Facebook pages and fan groups, and e-mail recruitment drives.

The Obama for America iPhone application is available for download through Apple's iTunes store, said Raven Zachary, an iPhone consultant who's directing the launch effort.

A "get involved" feature uses the phone's GPS-based location sensing to find the nearest Obama campaign headquarters, and "local events" likewise pulls up a list of activities sorted by proximity.

A "media" section provides links to video and photos, but beware: YouTube showed errors following some of the links. Perhaps the newer videos hadn't been prepared for iPhone display yet.

The application also shows Obama statements to the news media and a guide to Obama's positions on various issues.

Update 8:50 a.m. PDT: The application shows how many calls have been made nationwide and how many you made. Those statistics are the kind that can motivate people--they can feel like they're part of something bigger. That may sound a bit silly as a motivational tool, but consider that Smule's Sonic Lighter application for the iPhone is popular, despite the fact that it costs 99 cents more than its free competition, likely because people can see where else on the globe people are using it and because the longer you run the application, the bigger your own spot on the map becomes. It's a kind of competition.

Update 9:28 a.m. PDT: The campaign added an Obama iPhone app Web site, too.

[close5828]

Oh great, an ObamaPhone. I can picture the 'missionaries' running around w/ their iPhones now.

[Kinowolf]

This is how you run a campaign in the 21st century. Keep innovating Barry, let the old man catch up.

[Editors' note: Profanity deleted.]

[joetesta70]

Absolutely right - it's been amazing how they've run the campaign. Finally the democrats are doing something right.

[Destiny1028]

I have to admit. Barack Obama and his staff are running a brilliant and smart campaign.

[Mr. Dee]

Isn't this a violation of the App Store?

[stoppoliticalcalls]

Bummer that it does not work. I tried to download in iTunes and got an error message.

Shaun Dakin
StopPoliticalCalls.org

[sciontcya]

I'm selling my iPhone now.
Too bad none of his constituents -save for the Hollywood folks - can afford one.
PWND

[gcayo]

This is possibly the stupidest comment I've ever read. Please sell your iPhone, you don't deserve one, just like you don't deserve a country you can be proud of.

[mike.gw]

Obama and his campaign team are very smart. His use of technology during the campaign has been quite innovative. If he becomes President, this type of thinking bodes well for the country.

[sciontcya]

Oh yeah - like the Blackberry notification that didn't work?
Yep, good for the country.
CHANGE baby!

[Thomas, David]

@sciontcya

Yea, lets keep doing the same things the same way AGAIN, just like the last eight years. Oh, and don't forget to blame someone else, even though we HAD a budget, and the future WAS looking bright.

Let's keep trying the same insane, stubborn, close-minded approaches with absolutely no thought.

I think if you have such blind faith, in a recorded failed approach, you should get therapy.

[sciontcya]

@ Thomas D.

You mean the guys that have controlled Congress for the last two years?
The same folks that said on tape that Freddie and Fannie are not in trouble for the last 4 years?
I agree.
Get rid of them.
Or YOU get therapy.
You sound like those "Obama Kids' singing the songs like the Hitler Youth once did...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlcIwvHZUl4

Now THAT's scary bro.

[dcmitchell]

I work in the wireless industry and support Barack Obama because he and Joe Biden (and their millions of grassroots supporters) get it. Harness the power of the network!

[stigmattaman]

@ sciontcya - Uhhh, I would bet dollars to doughnuts that iPhone users are overwhelmingly pro-Obama. People still using pagers = McCain.

[Michichael]

Pagers? I was thinking a flock of abacus users...

[close5828]

Look out...it's the HopePhone!

[lacykemp]

@stigmattaman- that made me LOL. thanks.

I think there is more to this than what Obama is doing vs. What McCain is doing. The awesome news is that he/they are embracing technology for what it is: a way to move forward. No matter who you decide to vote for, be happy that we're heading in this direction. It really does show the power of being social and networking.

[technewsjunkie]

NOT THIS iPhone owner.

[nemsispog]

I'll put down 100.00 for someone to write one for jailbraked iPhone now, since i'm sure there it will not make it to offical app store. Anyone care to add to the pot?

[e-mail]

[nemsispog]

Correction:
I'll put down 100.00 for someone to write a McCain one for jailbraked iPhone now, since i'm sure there it will not make it to offical app store. Anyone care to add to the pot?

[srmj1]

What I am very concerned about is that Obama has an emblem on all his stuff even his podium. I don't think that is very American. If you are going to run for President of the United States then for goodness sake you should want to have the United States Flag with you on all your things and beside you when you are making speeches. It makes me wonder if you do get President if you are going to try to have that emblem instead of the Flag. I am very proud to be an American and the Flag is part of all Americans. I can tell you one thing, people that are undecided about who they are going to vote for will be very weary about going Democrat if they think what you mean by change is to use that emblem design on everything and try to change our Flag which will never never happen. Also, stick with the facts on what you plan to do not all the mud slinging. All that does is cause me and others to stop listening because we want facts not mud slinging on the other people. I could care less about things like that, I just want to know what you are for and plan to do, not what other people do or don't do. Thank you for your time.

[iBarack]

I've always thought a cell phone called the iBarack would have been absolutely brilliant myself.

By Marion TD Lewis, Esq.
Author of iBarack: An historic presidency
www.fivemonthstothepresidency.blogspot.com

[amisty-2009]

Precursor to your mandatory service to the government? have you people done any substantive research on world history? the playbook has been used time and time again, only this time it is on a global scale. When ignorance and greed floods the masses, all they (Government) have to do is promise a big dose of free stuff, coupled with an ample supply of fear, and all the weak and dependent masses fall victim to their control. Give "Liberty" (look up the definition) a try, because it is the only true and compassionate way for average people to maintain control of their own lives and destiny.

Here is some homework: read your liberating constitution and put it to the test against the actions of all government. Your smart? can you figure it out? it is black or white, yes or no, pro or con. ARE THEY ACTING FOR, OR AGAINST OUR FREEDOMS>