Cable operator Charter Communications launched mobile applications for iPhone, iPod touch and BlackBerry smartphones, giving customers access to the most up-to-date information about Charter services.

Charter expects that its mobile application will continue to grow in functionality to include more content streaming and the ability to order services.

?Our customer base spans 26 states in both rural and metro areas,? said Jim Gallagher, director of online marketing and ecommerce at Charter, St. Louis. ?What we have learned is regardless of where you are everyone is in the mobile space within hands reach of anything they are doing.

?The strategy behind this application is to let our customers interact with us wherever they are,? he said. ?It really is just to assist customers.?

Charter also recently launched its newly redesigned http://www.charter.net, with new customization tools, easy access to charter.net email and Facebook, real-time TV listings and trailers of movies available on Charter On Demand.

Both applications are available for download, for free, via their respective application download sites through the iTunes Store or BlackBerry App World.

Among other features, the Charter mobile application offers customers the ability to:

• View On Demand listings and trailers
• Find local service centers
• View local TV Listings
• View Charters Facebook and Twitter sites
• Get headline news and weather information
• View customer support articles and videos
• Contact Charter's customer support
• Check out Charter's most recent eNewsletter
• Learn about Charter's popular loyalty program, Live It with Charter
• Configure their device to pull in their Charter emails

Here is a screen grab of the BlackBerry application:

The charter.net site was recently enhanced to include the following features:

• Customizable front page, including a continuous stream of headline news, sports and stocks
  Access to Charter email, Facebook and ESPN360.com with just one click Access to On Demand and a host of movie and television information and ability to email popular videos to a friend with Charter's video player
• Charter is promoting the application with a sweepstakes. Consumers can enter the Charter Mobile App Sweepstakes for a chance to win an Apple iPod touch.
• The prize will come preloaded with the Charter application.

?The future phase from an application perspective is to support prospects,? Mr. Gallagher said. ?We need to support customers where they are coming from and play in their neighborhood.

?Phase two is a lot of support content on the app,? he said. ?With a chat box and support videos we are also minimizing call center volumes, as the application is designed to help consumers with many of their questions.

?In the future we plan to let them purchase and manage their DVR while on the go.?