Two Mainers to let more phones have iLobster app

Two Waterville residents who developed the iLobster application for Apple products plan to release similar apps this winter for Blackberry smart phones and phones running Google’s Android operating system. The app includes step-by-step lobster cracking instructions and lets users order lobsters from Maine lobster pounds and find lobster restaurants nationwide.

The app is available now only on Apple’s iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. It 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 launch in July, 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 lobsters ordered through iLobster.

State’s jobless rate drops in September to 7.7 percent

The Maine Department of Labor says the state’s unemployment rate dropped by 0.3 percentage point in September, to 7.7 percent.

Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman said Thursday that the preliminary figure compares favorably with the national unemployment rate of 9.6 percent in September.

It also reflects an unemployed total of 53,100 workers, down 4,100 from a year ago.

Unemployment rates were lower in urban areas than in rural areas.

United, Southwest, JetBlue report high quarter profits

United Continental, Southwest, and JetBlue all reported strong third-quarter profits on Thursday as more people flew, and paid more to do it.

Because of that, airlines are restoring some of the flights they cut during the recession. The trick will be to resist adding so many flights it kills their profits. They want to meet rising demand without offering so many seats they have to resort to discounts to fill them.

United Continental Holdings Inc., for instance, said capacity will grow 3 percent to 4 percent during the fourth quarter. It said most of that will be restoring flights cut a year ago. Its capacity should grow no more than 2 percent next year.

JetBlue said fourth-quarter capacity will rise as much as 10 percent as it continues to add flights in Boston and the Caribbean. Delta Air Lines Inc. said on Wednesday that fourth-quarter capacity will rise 5 percent to 7 percent, mostly on international flights, which it reduced sharply a year ago.

AT&T’s iPhone sets sales record for latest quarter

AT&T Inc. sold a record number of iPhones in the latest quarter, continuing to siphon subscribers from other wireless carriers in a tightening industry.

The country’s largest telecommunications company on Thursday said it activated 5.2 million units of Apple Inc.’s phone, roughly 400,000 more than analysts had expected.

The iPhone 4 went on sale on June 24, just before the start of the quarter. Apple’s worldwide sales figures, reported Monday, had already shown the device to be a blockbuster hit, despite early complaints about reception problems.

AT&T is the exclusive U.S. carrier for the iPhone, but news reports have said Verizon Wireless is getting it early next year. The companies haven’t confirmed that.