Since its launch in 2010, Instagram has gone viral. They have over 30 millions users and their acquisition by Facebook made front page news. Now, their worldwide success is what many startups aspire to obtain. I thought I would take a look at companies that have the potential to achieve the same level of success, and came up with a list of 3 companies that I think are the contenders to be the next truly massive success story.
Viddy
An app called Viddy takes on a very simular concept to Instagram. It has the same idea framework, but instead of sharing photos, Viddy allows users to captures 15 second video clips. The next steps remain the same as Instagram as you take the captured media, add a filter, and share with friends. Some might find the 15 second mark “insanely short,” but it forces you to cut out any unnecessary footage and get right to the point.
Why do I think this copycat app won’t just be thrown aside?
Because it already hasn’t been. Celebrities have already taken an interest in Viddy as a way to let fans into their lives through little video snippets.
With music icons and even Facebook’s own Mark Zuckerburg using the app, it sets off an influx of new users.
This kind of free advertising creates a buzz large enough to give Viddy the possibility to become the next Instagram.
Pair
I found out about this app from an article on mashable, and I think it has real potential. Pair is an app that makes it easier to stay in touch with that one person who you send 90% of your text messages to. Instead of sending “messages to a single person using tools that were designed to send messages to everyone you know,“ Pair allows you to send photos, video, your location, and even things like sketches to one person in a single message.
(picture from here)
Beyond the basics, they have some cheesy features for couples to enjoy. ThumbKiss is a feature that lets you see where your partner’s finger is on the screen, and when your thumb meets theirs, both of your iPhones will vibrate. If that’s a little too much tech love for your liking, you can relax when you’re miles apart by sharing a live white board. Some possibilities to use this are to play games, share drawings, or create a mutual shopping list.
Why I think this App will gain momentum
I know so many people in my life that have the need for this app. I could see people in middle school all the way through married couples finding use for this app and loving the features it provides.
Pose
This app takes on photo sharing from a fashion perspective. Pose enables you to snap a photo of an item of clothing, tag it with the item’s price, brand, and store, and post it to Pose. Your followers can “heart” an item (a la Instagram) or discuss their opinions in the comments.
Now, the practicality of this app is that brands can use it to drive business. The most common way to use the app is when you’re in a store and you come across and item of clothing you may want to buy, Pose invites you to take a snapshot. You can then tag it with your current location and the item’s price, and share it with friends. While a lot of popular brands have their own accounts where they can post professionally styled outfits, anyone can take a shot at styling the pieces and then share the same way.
Why I think Pose is a strong contender
The idea is really attractive to anyone interested in fashion. You get to share your style and the looks you create with fashionistas all over the world. People you don’t even know can approve of your style. There are also brand names already on the site such as Levis, Coco Rocha, and Jewelmint. Getting the experts in on this app has driven all their fans to start posing themselves!
Free is the Key
Something all these apps have in common with each other and Instagram is the price, as they are all available for free in the Apple App Store. When the app is free there is no reason not to try it out, so see what you think.
Who do you think is the strongest contender? Is there an underdog that I didn’t mention? Let me know in the comments!
