iPhone Buddy app a big hit in the Netherlands

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iPhone Buddy app a big hit in the Netherlands

Young entrepreneur from the Netherlands introduced an iPhone application to support smokers during an attempt to quit named My Stop Buddy. Last Monday the app was released in the Netherlands and within 24 hours it reached the 3rd place in the Dutch AppStore.

Amsterdam, 3 March 2010 – People who would like to quit smoking can get support for 21 days. By filling in their personal profile they will receive 150 activities for difficult moments, 75 jokes about health and feedback, for example, about the amount of money saved after the quit attempt. My Stop Buddy can be used everywhere, is personal, recognizes the users and shows consideration for their situation. Ex-smokers will get support whenever they need it: in the morning, at night, at work or in the cafe.

The app displays five buttons on the screen. The buttons correspondent with a certain emotion, for instance stress, boredom or relaxation. Thus, the former smoker becomes more aware of his smoking behavior. By pressing the corresponding emotion button and by answering questions about the situation of the user, different alternative activities will be displayed on the screen which provide distraction to the user during a moments, when he is craving for a cigarette. The users’ opinion about these activities and the progress of the attempt to quit are registered for 21 days. Online feedback from users, for instance, via a forum on the website, gives opportunities to optimalize future versions of the application.

Scientific based
Three years ago, Industrial Designer Lianne Sleebos MSc., graduated from the Technical University of Delft on an innovative method to support smokers during an attempt to quit. STIVORO, the Dutch Foundation for National Health and Smoking, and the Dutch Heart Foundation were actively involved during the graduation project in 2007. The method is based on different theories on how to quit smoking which have proven their values in time. Eighteen months ago, new opportunities arose thanks to the introduction of the iPhone with the AppStore in the Netherlands. Recently, Sleebos developed an app for the Apple-smartphone in cooperation with a freelance programmer.

Worldwide
My Stop Buddy will be launched worldwide in Dutch and English for a price of 2.99 dollar. This amount is lower than that of a packet of cigarettes and will save the user a lot of money, if the attempt to quit proves successful. The young talented entrepreneurs wish to develop more apps which will support change of habit.

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