Zippo Manufacturing Company and Moderati Inc. today announced that their Virtual Zippo Lighter, a free, branded application available in Apple's iTunes App Store for the iPhone and the iPod Touch has notched five million downloads and is extending its European tour with releases in
The Virtual Zippo Lighter, which brings the look and feel of Zippo's iconic lighter to the iPhone, has become a global phenomenon and ranks in the top 20 iPhone apps of all time according to Comscore. It opens with a flick of the wrist and lights with a turn of the flint wheel and the truly windproof flame sways as the device is moved back and forth. The Virtual Zippo Lighter allows Zippo fans to experience the famous "Zippo Moment" for free, by holding their cell phones aloft and swaying to power ballads at concerts.
The Virtual Zippo Lighter features a selection of designs to customize the skin of the lighter, as well as an animated flame that reacts to movement of the phone. The application takes advantage of several features of the iPhone and iPod Touch developer platform, including the accelerometer to enable movement of the flame in response to motion. Realistic sound effects highlight the action of the lighter when it opens and closes, and the vibration feature lets you know when the flame is upside down.
Zippo manufactures an average of 11 million windproof pocket lighters each year, and 450 million since the first lighter was created in 1932. This collaboration with Moderati represents the brand's first cooperative foray into downloadable applications for mobile devices, and a successful one at that.
"If you were to tell us how popular the Virtual Zippo app would be twelve months ago, we would have told you that you flipped your lighter lid" jokes Pat Grandy, Marketing Communications Manager at Zippo, "but the results speak for themselves."
This fall, the companies will are releasing a premium version of the Virtual Zippo Lighter app to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the Virtual Zippo Lighter launch. Users will be able to choose between the classic or buy the new $.99 version that, among other options, allows users to personalize their lighters with a huge variety of downloadable skins, designs, and images.
"It's amazing to go to a concert anywhere in the
Download the Virtual Zippo Lighter on iTunes, or learn more about it at http://www.moderati.com/zippo.html and http://www.zippo.com.
About Zippo
For 77 years, Zippo Manufacturing Company, maker of the world-famous windproof lighter, has developed new and unique products that solidify the brand as the name in flame. Zippo is based in
About Moderati, a Bellrock Media Company
Moderati is a digital content agency that helps brands connect with their consumers through engaging entertainment experiences. The company delivers the best digital content to consumers when, where and how they want it, with a mission to engage and entertain through creativity, technology and humor. Moderati has deep roots in mobile content and entertainment, and has been a trusted partner of top-tier wireless carriers since 2001. The company is a subsidiary of
For more information, visit the Website at http://www.moderati.com.
PR Contact
VSC AppLaunchPR For Moderati
Michal Habdank-Kolaczkowski, 415-677-9125 ext. 207
