AHL Releases Mobile Apps

iOS screen captures

The AHL announced yesterday that they have released apps for iOS devices (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad) and Android devices. A Blackberry app will be available soon.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that the league’s official mobile application is now available free from the iTunes App Store and the Android Market.

Created and developed by NewSport Media, the league’s statistical and website partner since 2005, the app provides access to real-time AHL scoring data, game summaries, stats, schedules, standings, rosters and news, as well as links to the official Facebook and Twitter pages of the AHL and to the mobile-friendly version of the league’s official website at mobile.theahl.com.

The iOS version of the app is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices, and can be downloaded here.

The Android version, requiring Android OS 1.5 and up, can be downloaded here.

A BlackBerry version of the app is coming soon.

I do like the fact that when the app starts, the image that you see is of a Hershey Bear with the Calder Cup (bonus points if you can name the people in the picture). The app looks pretty simple and lacks much in the way of settings. You can link to the official AHL twitter and facebook pages, but there are only a couple places where you can share information on twitter or by email. The share does not include an option for facebook. The iOS app does multi-task, so you can open up other apps and when you return to it you will see the same page you were on before you left.

What I think that the application is lacking is more ability to share information on social media sites. I’d also like to see push notifications in a future release similar to what the NHL has on theirs.  All in all I think it’s a good start for the AHL, but probably a little bit overdue.