Paramount has unveiled a new Star Trek app that will grant users access to exclusive content for the upcoming sequel, Star Trek Into Darkness, directed by J.J. Abrams.  We were granted an early look at the app during its development.  Rather than create a virtual game or a throw-away bit of viral marketing, the designers from Paramount and Qualcomm have built a one-stop shop for all Star Trek movie-related news that will be released piecemeal via scavenger hunts, location cues and media scans up until the May 17th release of Star Trek Into Darkness.  The real bonus is that the Star Trek goodies will then continue over the summer until the movie's eventual home video release and will extend even further to cover future installments.  In other words, the Star Trek app and its ambitious goal to bring fans continuing content and exclusive looks into the franchise makes it a very worthwhile addition to your smartphone (especially since it's free).  Hit the jump for more details on the new Star Trek app.

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Here's a brief rundown of the highlights of the Star Trek app, which is now available to be  downloaded at Apple's iTunes.  The app will also be available in the Google Play store later today:

  • User-friendly and intuitive interface
  • Lightning-fast scans of images, posters and billboards
  • One-stop shop for Star Trek news and content on your smartphone
  • Exclusive content and interactive experiences
  • Sweepstakes contests
  • Accessible for casual fans or hardcore Trekkies/Trekkers
  • Continuing content available up to the release of Star Trek Into Darkness in theaters, on home video and beyond
  • Free to purchase

Even in its early days of development, the Star Trek app proved to be intuitive and user-friendly.  There is a simple interface for users to access the latest news (some of which is exclusive to the app itself) as well as a variety of missions that will unlock Star Trek-related content.  Missions run from the simple point-and-shoot style captures of images and posters, to scans of audio samples of trailers and TV spots, to location-based rewards.  Each successfully completed mission grants the user a number of points which accumulate in order to gain promotions through the ranks of Starfleet.

On a technical note, the image capturing was an absolute stand-out.  The previous vogue of using a smartphone to scan QR codes or other barcode-style graphics on images has been replaced by an image capturing system that uses key areas of contrast and shape recognition to provide near instantaneous scans of posters, images and billboards.  The audio scanning, which looks for a specific and intentional line of code embedded within trailers, TV spots and other video media, is a bit slower but proves fast enough to grab the necessary information.  The first big application of this mission type will be during a Star Trek Into Darkness TV spot that will air during the Super Bowl.

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The app will also collect all of your Star Trek news in one area, pulling articles from all over the web and organizing it under the drop-down menu.  In addition to news, the app will also store the images and videos unlocked from your completed missions, with an option to share them over social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, as well as over email.

One great thing about the app is the flexibility it provides users to delve into all sorts of Star Trek content.  Casual fans can check out the latest poster or trailer, while hardcore Trekkies/Trekkers can attempt to complete every mission and earn their way up the ranks to become a Starfleet Admiral (or perhaps even beyond).  The real aspect of the app that made it a winner in my book was the fact that it is not just intended to be used for Star Trek Into Darkness and then deleted from your smartphone, but it will be active up until the sequel's May 17th release date, then continue to provide exclusive content and deals for the movie's home video release and for successive movies beyond that.  In other words, you can keep the app on your phone for future installments of the entire franchise rather than deleting and installing new throw-away apps every time.  The thought that has gone into the design of the Star Trek app is above and beyond what any movie tie-in has done previously and it's definitely worth a look, especially since it's free.

The Star Trek app can be downloaded from Apple iTune's store here.  The app will have an initial block of missions to complete with more being added over the coming weeks.  Be sure to check out all of our previous and continuing coverage on Star Trek Into Darkness here and see the sequel when it debuts in theaters on May 17th.

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Here's the press release:

“STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS” FIRST OF ITS KIND APP AVAILABLE FOR FREE FROM THE APP STORE AND GOOGLE PLAY

FIRST SURPRISE UNLOCKED DURING THE SECOND QUARTER OF THE BIG GAME FEBRUARY 3RD

HOLLYWOOD, CA (January 31, 2013) – “STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS” first of its kind application, based on J.J. Abrams’ upcoming Paramount Pictures film, is now available to download for free from the App Store and Google Play.  Users who have the app will have unprecedented access to all STAR TREK content, as well as the opportunity to participate in missions and win valuable prizes.

Utilizing the latest technologies from Qualcomm Incorporated, such as Qualcomm Labs’ Gimbal™ platform and Qualcomm Vuforia™ augmented reality platform, the app will allow users to delve deeper into the Star Trek universe by interacting directly with materials from the eagerly awaited film to unlock additional content and experiences.  The users collect points, see content, and work their way through the Star Trek Academy.

The app was first announced on January 7th,2013 at the Consumer Electronic Show, during Qualcomm’s Chairman and CEO Dr. Paul E. Jacobs’ keynote address demonstrating the ability to “harness the power of the smartphone to bridge the digital and physical world, allowing the studio to market the film in the real world and simultaneously bring users into the film’s story and world.”

To download the app, visit www.StarTrekMovie.com/StarTrekApp

Highlights of the “STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS” app include:

  • A geofencing function for location-based experiences such as encouraging viewers to go to the movies;
  • An audio scan function that can be turned on to automatically recognize and reward users for watching “STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS” content on TV and other media;
  • An image scan function that enables users to interact with images printed or viewable in the real world;
  • New “STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS” content, such as videos, images and wallpapers delivered directly to users’ mobile devices;
  • Exclusive opportunities and special offers only available to app users.

“STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS” is written by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman & Damon Lindelof and directed by J.J. Abrams.  Abrams is producing with Bryan Burk through Bad Robot Productions, along with Lindelof, Kurtzman and Orci.  Jeffrey Chernov and Skydance Productions’ David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Paul Schwake are the executive producers.

“STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS” opens in theaters everywhere May 17th, 2013.

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