• Android app Being our first mob app back in 2008, it has 100K installs in Googe Play and 10K active users on average. We continouesly improve the Android version with new features and functionality. Other than Googe Play, we have also deployed the app to Amazon, Samsung and Huawei app stores to expand the user coverage.
• iOS app Our first iOS app was lauched in 2017 offering very similar features as Android app. It was a great sucess for us to prove that our team is able to deliever cross platform mobile apps. The expereicen of iOS certainly improved our understanding of managing users from different backgrounds.
• UWP app One step further, we have our UWP app in Windows Store gone live in 2018 marking our expasion to PC, Windows Device and XBOX. The earlier Win Phone prototype certainly helped us during the journey but it was a chanllege for us in the beginning to maintain the consitency and compablity of all three platforms. We have also greatly re-structured our backend infrastructure to allow increased volume of activities and performance of the servers.
• macOS app We have also attempt to start a project to create macOS app following the success of UWP app. The project is still under development.
• Other apps The techinical architect we have chosen will also allow us to build our app for additional new platforms: for example Tizan app. We are waiting for these platforms to gain more users before putting more efforts into it. Our existing platform and data set will allow us to start these developments at very fast speed.

From functionality point of view, more and more users want to track and manage gift cards in one place on the more. Since the inception of our Gift Card Balance app in 2008, we have been keeping an eye on the app store to see if there are other good apps can offer better solutions than we have done to retrive gift card balance. There were 2-3 of them available for US and Australia. The concept of retriving balance was similar to us but done in slightly different ways.

• The most essential part of the app to make sure the cards have up to date balance check methods. Card issuers might change their details over time, maintaining these information require patience and consistent attentions.
• Time and efforts to keep the app up to date with Android API and app store requirements are another big chanllege. We frequently update our app to meet this compliance requirements and provide new updates when balance enquiry methods have changed.
• It is fun to write app as a hobby but keep the app going for 10 years need additional finanial support and sustenable business model. It is also crucial to make us the app has reasonably audience with free usage options.

The above 3 key points probably answer the question why GCB is still here after 13 years. Other balance check apps were either defunct or off the app store.

Our Gift Card Balance app is backed up by a community of gift card ensiuamns. We are doing our best to ensure the information in our directory is accurate and recent. The app is not restricted to one country or location, we want to capture all gift cards around the world. The gift card information we provide is extensive, including brand details, card balance, card T&C, card arts, merchant details and social media links.

• [Existing generic Card Wallet Apps] There are a few big branded card wallet app around to allow you save card barcode, number and manual balance. Some of these apps do a very good job to streamline a selected range of gift cards. These apps might have a dedicated backend connection to issue to retrieve balance or update card details. However, the number of supproted card and brands are typically limited, including its country and location. You can also add a manual card and edit details as you need to. Typically, the card/brand information is limited too, it only has card name and a url. You can't see any more details of the card, for example, terms and conditions.
• [Existing Gift Card or Loyalty App for single brand] There are quite a few apps designed for a single brand. The merchant works with issuer to include additional feature in their own mobile app. It normally has very accurate information for the gift card like expiry, balance, transaction history. The limitations is that you can only add the cards of the brand but nothing else. Nowadays, it is very common for anyone to have a few different branded gift card. It will be very inconvient to capture different cards in different apps.
• [Existing Gift Card Directory Apps] We also come across 1-2 directory apps for gift card or loyalty rewards. These app does contain a large set of card information with general information and detailed links and reference. However, the app is static and does not allow your to manage your cards. You can find the information in the app but will still need a different to store and capture your card details.
• [Existing Gift Card Shopping Apps] Across the world, there are a few digit gift card apps that selling e gift card and coupons in the app. Once you have purchased the gift card, you can use it directly in the app and it also captures transactions and remaining balances. It works very well for the cards you have purchased, but you could not add non-purchased cards. There is also limited information regarding the brand and merchant.