Latest Android app from UK Theatre Web uses show posters to make finding theatre tickets even easier

Innovative what's on listings and ticket comparison website UK Theatre Web have released an updated version of their free Android application for smart phones featuring an experimental poster recognition service which aims to make it even easier for customers to find, compare and buy West End theatre tickets.

The brand new feature of the app allows users to snap the poster of top West End shows using the camera on their phone so that clever technology can automatically recognise it and display show information and a "Call for Tickets" button. The poster can be photographed from a billboard, magazine or newspaper.

At present the experimental system will recognise the publicity posters of around 30 different shows and plays currently running in London’s West End including War Horse, Legally Blonde, Shrek the Musical, The Wizard of Oz and Billy Elliot.

The UKTW App, Version 1.6 of which can now be downloaded for free from the Android Market (search for UKTW), allows searching of the UKTW listings database by town, show or person providing access to extensive details including venue maps, cast and ticket information provided by the SeatChoice ticket finder service. The UKTW App is designed to provide basic listings details even if no internet connection is available by using a local copy of the key listings information that can be updated regularly. Smart phones which use the Android platform include HTC, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and Nexus.

Users of the UKTW App can read or add reviews using the system and can now, since the latest release, search the extensive UK Theatre Web archive of over 1 million records going back to the mid 1990's.

UK Theatre Web founder Robert Iles said: “We have been providing what’s on information on-line for seventeen years but this new facility is one of the most exciting we've launched recently. If you're passing a poster for a West End show and think you'd like to go and see it all you have to do is snap it with your camera phone and we'll connect you to all the information you need. More and more people are using their smart phones to access information on the move and this free 'app' makes finding West End theatre tickets and information about shows even easier.”

More details about the 'app' can be found at http://www.uktw.co.uk/android/