Psion creates user community to generate ideas

Mobile equipment maker has set up a community portal that gets more traffic than its own web site

Mobile computer manufacturer Psion has created an online community that now sees twice as much traffic as its own web site.

The site has seen the firm crowdsource ideas and develop new products.

The company used Telligent Community 6.0, social community software from Telligent, to create the community.

The portal was set up in March 2010, and has now accumulated 12,000 registered users and 60,000 unique visits per month.

Furthermore, the company found that users spend twice as much time visiting the community site as they do visiting the company web site.

Psion makes mobile computers with tailored hardware and software including screens, keyboards, grips and accessories.

Using its community portal, the company has been able to solicit the views and ideas of its users to jointly develop new products.