Two Waterville residents who developed the iLobster application for Apple products plan to release similar apps for Blackberry smart phones and phones running Google’s Android operating system sometime this winter.

The app includes step-by-step lobster cracking instructions and lets users order lobsters from Maine lobster pounds and locate lobster restaurants nationwide.

Currently, the app is available only on Apple’s iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

The iLobster app was created by two Colby College staffers, web programmer Ben Greeley and senior graphics designer Robert P. Hernandez. Greeley’s role was programming; Hernandez created the graphics and illustrations.

The two said they spent a few months designing the application before sending it to Apple for approval earlier this year.

Since its July launch, iLobster has been downloaded about 400 times, said Greeley. The cost for the full version of the application is $1.99.  Greeley said he and Hernandez keep 75 percent of income.
Greeley said downloads were heaviest during the summer, although the product is still downloaded about 10 times per week.

In addition to creating an app for Android and BlackBerry smart phones, Greeley and Hernandez are working to increase partnerships with the Maine lobster pounds that will supply the crustaceans ordered through iLobster.

“We would like to get more business to lobster companies in Maine,” said Greeley.