Mobile · 2016-10-02

Have a ‘Houseparty’ with multiple video feeds from friends over phone

housepartyHaving a group text chat with your friends is nice but you can get behind on the conversation pretty quickly if you’re not constantly checking on it. Houseparty is a smartphone app brought to you by the makers of Meerkat & aimed at making it easy to hang with friends with the tap of a button, sort of like a group Facetime.

The app was just launched after an initial beta testing period of about 6 months in which it claims to have gained over 1 million users just by word of mouth. It’s structured as a synchronous social network, creating a virtual space that lets users hang with their friends from anywhere.

According to Ben Rubin, co-founder of the San Franciso, USA-based startup Meerkat, they decided to pivot the live streaming platform about one year after launch to what has eventually become Houseparty. Meerkat started losing momentum with the uptake of their app, 1st because of the introduction of Periscope & its acquisition by Twitter & later with Facebook producing their own clone: Facebook Live.

They decided that the broadcast (1-to-many) format was not as engaging for users as the Houseparty format, which builds on the more formal Facetime, Skype or Hangouts apps, to create a more lightweight, fun way of getting together with friends on line, without having to set anything up. In fact, some of the design decisions for the product are pretty radical in their simplicity:

  • The user screen goes live on open
  • It’s permissive; friends can join the conversations of friends-of-friends
  • Users always know when friends are live in the app
  • Notifications are cleared/updated to reflect who is currently in the house

According to Ben Rubin’s ‘Houseparty Manifesto, rule #1 is: it’s a party, so when you open up the app, you’re immediately with your friends; you can go into the party with expectations, but be prepared to be surprised; it’s more fun the more people you know at the party; no randos; it should be casual & comfortable; & finally you’re free to show up or leave whenever you feel like it.

The app is free.

Click here to download Houseparty on your iOS device.

Click here to download Houseparty on your Android device.

– This post is merely a startup profile based on publicly available information & not a review. –

Image Credit: Houseparty

 

 

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