TCS Launches the Official 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon App

TCS provides spectators with technology to access all the action

LONDON, April 16, 2018: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS) a leading global IT services, consulting and business solutions organization, has today launched the official app of the Virgin Money London Marathon.

The 2018 mobile app developed by TCS, the Official Technology Partner for the Virgin Money London Marathon for the third year, includes all the features both runners and spectators need to become fully immersed into one of the UK’s and the world’s most iconic mass participation sporting events.

One of the most prominent features of the app is the in-built tracking system; connecting participant and supporters, it allows spectators to locate their favourite runners and keep up-to-date with their progress by auto-tracking athletes both throughout the race and via push notifications of their finish times. The interactive map tracking runners’ progress with live updates every 5 kilometres ensures the best viewing points during the race and provides extra support from spectators, empowering participants to achieve their personal.

Last year, saw the app downloaded 292,116 times, that’s more than one in 30 Londoners. This year, the app now includes a charity module taking users directly to the Virgin Money Giving London Marathon site.

Free to download and use, the official app is the best way to track anyone you know taking part from the moment they start to ensure that you are in the right place to cheer them on and help them across the finishing line.

Available on the iOS APP store and Google Play Store, by performing the keyword search “Virgin Money London Marathon” or “London Marathon”, the official Virgin Money London Marathon app is a one-stop shop of information on the event, offering the expected 40k+ participants details including the course map, start times, results, expo info, transportation, etc.

The app, with an easy to use interface, features an in-built tracking system for spectators to locate their favorite 20 runners (up 10 from last year) and provides points of interest such as pubs, live music and drinks stations supporting the event, as well as essential locations such as first aid points.

This new, interactive, approach to fitness and events such as the marathon is reflective of the way digital technology is transforming all aspects of society with social media, smartphone applications, fitness trackers and wearables giving a wealth of data to analyse and improve upon.

Refreshed since 2017, this year’s app includes the following features:

1. Home Screen

Displays a count-down timer for the Marathon race event, and quick links to the most prominent features of the app; Map, Favorites, and Leaderboard

2. Charity Module

Taking users directly to the Virgin Money Giving London Marathon site.

3. Event Info

The Event Info section contains useful information on the Marathon including;

a. Event Info: Distance, Age entry criteria, Start Time(s), Start and Finish Location(s)

b. Expo Info: Expo Location, Opening Times, Getting to Excel

c. Transport: Provides directions for Runners and Spectators on race day

4. Map:

The Map contains selectable overlays/ filters (Medical, Drinks Station, Pub Venues, Live Bands, Distance Markers).

a. The Map also shows favorite runners (up to 20) as dots with their initials

5. Favorites

a. Search for your favorite runners, family members and friends participating in the race using their Name or BIB number.

b. Runners can be added to your Favorites list by clicking on the star icon beside the runner’s name. Up to 20 runners can now be tracked (up from 10 in 2017).

c. You can view further details of runners added to your Favorites within this section. Clicking on any of the profiles displays a detailed view, users can view details such as the Start Time, Last Checkpoint crossed by the runner, Time Taken to reach that checkpoint and their Pace. Also, the Tracking feature provides an Estimated Time for the runner to reach the next checkpoint, as well as an estimated Finish time.

6. Leaderboard

a. The Leaderboard section auto tracks the 20 fastest runners

7. Results:

a. Current Results: Displays Current Race results for 2018 following the completion of the event. This module displays a list of the Top 10 Men & Women Finishers by event type. If users wants to know their position and timings in a specific race, they can find their result via the Search Button provided on the Results screen. Users have to enter either a BIB Number or Name.

b. Past Results: Displays Top 10 Race Results from races held in previous years (course records) by event type.

8. Social: Twitter @LondonMarathon #EmpoweredtobemyBest

View Twitter Tweets. Users can view what others are talking about, or commenting upon. Event Organizers will publish updates on Social Platforms throughout the event.

9. Partners and Sponsors

This sections contains a list of Partners and Sponsors for the 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon. Clicking on an icon takes users to the Partners / Sponsors website.

10. About

Share feedback on the App; Share the App and rate the App within the respective stores.

11. Push Notifications

The app also support push notification

12. What technology it uses

The app was developed on iOS and Android Platform supporting all the latest devices available in the Market. The Backend was hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud. AWS Features used : AWS S3, Amazon VPC-EC2, Amazon Cloudfront and Amazon RDS (Database), Elastic Load Balancer

About Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (TCS)

Tata Consultancy Services is an IT services, consulting and business solutions provider that has been partnering with the world’s largest businesses in their transformation journeys for the last fifty years. TCS offers a consulting-led, cognitive powered, integrated portfolio of business, technology and engineering services and solutions. This is delivered through its unique, location-independent Agile delivery model, a benchmark of excellence in software development.

A part of the Tata group, India's largest multinational business group, TCS has over 390,000 of the world’s best-trained consultants in 46 countries. The company generated consolidated revenues of US $17.6 billion for the year ended March 31, 2017 and is listed on the BSE (formerly Bombay Stock Exchange) and the NSE (National Stock Exchange) in India. TCS' proactive stance on climate change and award winning work with communities across the world have earned it a place in leading sustainability indices such as the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), MSCI Global Sustainability Index and the FTSE4Good Emerging Index. For more information, visit us at www.tcs.com

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