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Sports lovers get more social through new mobile app

This free app enables real-time scoring, messaging, and 'fan hangout rooms' during live games. The app will focus on all cricket fixtures along with international soccer, F1 and golf.

Mass market social gaming platform PlayUp has announced the launch of its new mobile-based social sports network, thus adding a new dimension to live sports engagement.

The social network is called 'PlayUp', and is basically a first-of-its-kind, free-to-use mobile application (app) that enables sports fans to follow their choice of 20,000 live games in real time. The app further enables people to simultaneously discuss the games with their fellow fans on their mobile devices.

Sports lovers get more social through new mobile app
The app is currently available for iOS-based devices such as iPhones, iPads, iPod touch, and is slated to cover android, desktop and Windows7 over the next few months. Besides real-time scoring and stats, it also allows users to create private virtual rooms and chat with fans around the world in real time during the games. Though the app covers all sports, it will focus on all types of cricket fixtures along with international soccer, F1, and golf.

Each game is connected to a social graph that measures the degree of excitement among the fans, and offers them an opportunity to express their thoughts and read those of other fans.

Speaking about the launch of this app, Rajat Kulshrestha, chief executive officer, PlayUp India, says in an official communiqué, "PlayUp will redefine the live gaming segment, globally. We see this as just the beginning of a social network that will change the way we consume sports, whether in front of the TV, at a live match, or on your way back home from work."

Kulshrestha informs that the app has been created to entertain sports fans by coupling the concept of social interactivity with that of live sports. He adds that through this app, users will be able to experience many new features such as activity stream and the ability to share pictures, videos, and voice messages from the ground, amongst other things.

Through this interactive sports offering, PlayUp will attempt to target its current Facebook fan community of 1.3 million, and engage it across multiple channels and platforms. This social sports network will let fans experience a shift from a passive viewership role to an interactive and engaged sports experience.

PlayUp specialises in building mobile communities around sports. Founded in 2007 by Australian entrepreneurs Luke Bunbury and George Tomeski, PlayUp has been offering mobile-based sports/social gaming applications for the last three years.

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