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HotSchedules Launches Employee Scheduling Application for BlackBerry®AUSTIN, Texas --(Business Wire)-- HotSchedules today announced the release and immediate availability of its restaurant employee scheduling application for the BlackBerry (News - Alert), the company's second mobile application. The company's first mobile app, iSchedule for the iPhone®, is ranked in the top 25 most downloaded paid business apps in the App Store, with over 1,200 downloads per month. "As soon as we launched the iPhone (News - Alert) app, our users responded asking when a BlackBerry version would be available," said Casey Clinkenbeard, VP of Product Development for HotSchedules. "Hundreds of HotSchedules users reached out to us via Twitter and Facebook (News - Alert) requesting the app, and we've kept the dialogue going with several of them throughout product development and beta testing to ensure that we offered the features they needed for the BlackBerry." The initial release of the HotSchedules BlackBerry app will include employee-facing functionality, including the ability for restaurant employees to: Check their work schedule anytime, anywhere with a fast, mobile-optimized app Request time off, pick up a shift, or release a shift and check manager approvals directly in the app Call or email co-workers on their HotSchedules contact list with one click Access their HotSchedules inbox and send messages A release enabling manager-facing functionality is expected to become available in the spring. "The user-driven development of the BlackBerry app has been exciting for us," said Clinkenbeard. "We've always relied on our customers' feedback to prioritize new features and functionality with HotSchedules, and this experience has proven how valuable social media can be for encouraging interaction with customers. We look forward to everyone's feedback on the BlackBerry app as we continue to roll out HotSchedules on additional mobile platforms." The HotSchedules BlackBerry app is now available from BlackBerry® App World™ for $2.99. About HotSchedules HotSchedules, innovators of the most widely-used web-based restaurant workforce management solutions and mobile applications, sets the industry standard for service, support and labor management expertise. By engaging with its clients as partners, HotSchedules vastly improves management-employee communications, resulting in greater employee satisfaction and retention and offers a fast, proven ROI through reduced manual scheduling and labor costs. From independent restaurants to corporate chains, HotSchedules' suite of solutions empowers restaurant staff and managers with all the tools they need to communicate effectively and efficiently. More than 4,000 restaurants and over 425,000 users rely on HotSchedules every day. HotSchedules complements its product offerings with a world-class, bilingual support staff at the company's headquarters in Austin, Texas. Follow HotSchedules on Twitter at www.twitter.com/hotschedules. HotSchedules' corporate and franchise clients include such well-known concepts as Outback Steakhouse, the Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Carino's Italian, Claim Jumper Restaurants, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Fleming's Steakhouse, Applebee's, BJ's Restaurants, Gordon Biersch, Jamba Juice and many others. For more information, visit www.hotschedules.com. |
