“Check-in Poland” is a mobile application that helps foreign football fans visiting Poland during the UEFA EURO 2012 European Football Championship to locate and meet their compatriots in our country.
The application also serves to promote Poland by presenting possible meeting places that can be added by users.
Recommended locations are displayed on an interactive map on which users can find interesting venues close by (grouped in categories like fan zones, entertainment, worth seeing, etc.). The map lets users see other fans who have checked in at a specific location. It also provides them with other useful tips, for instance information about the number of people from their country heading toward a specific location or the number of people who have already checked in at a given location. Users can also see their nicks and chat with others after selecting them in the app.
The application lets the virtual and real worlds intertwine, and also offers social networking functionality, enabling users to connect with their Facebook accounts and post meeting places on their profiles.
The initial location base (cities where UEFA EURO 2012 matches will be played: Warsaw, Krakow, Poznan, Wroclaw, Gdansk, Sopot, Gdynia) containing short descriptions and photos has been prepared by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Additional venues may be added by users and are moderated by the Ministry.
The application also contains a “News” section regularly updated by the MFA, where users will find key information about security, consular protection, emergency telephone numbers and information about events that may affect foreigners visiting Poland.
The “Check-in Poland” is a free application available from GooglePlay (for smartphones running the Android system) and from the AppStore (for smartphones running the iOS operating system). The application operates in two language versions: English and Polish. It was commissioned by the MFA.
The project’s landing page is available at: http://checkinpoland.pl
