Spreecast, a social media–enabled video platform for live video events aimed at an unlimited audience, is going mobile, releasing a iPhone app that will allow access to Spreecast video sessions or via the mobile browser on any iOS or Android device.
The new Spreecast app will allow iPhone users to access any live or archived Spreecast. The app allows text-based chat for asking questions, offers social media access to Facebook and Twitter. Later versions of the app will allow users to use a smartphone’s camera to join the live Spreecast video feed. A tablet app for iPad/iOS and the Android OS is also in development for future release.
Launched in 2011 by Jeff Fluhr, who previously launched the online ticket service StubHub before selling it in 2007, Spreecast offers an easy way to set up online video conferencing events, like author interviews or live bookstore events. The service allows up to four people to be on camera at once, while also allowing interactive responses to an online audience of almost any size. The service is being used by a number of publishers, among them, Random House, Penguin, and Simon & Schuster, to offer live author chats that can be archived online.
Fluhr told PW that the firm is growing quickly and pointed to book publishing as a driver. He said Spreecast’s growth in “active users,” year-over-year growth for Q1 2013 over Q1 2012, was “5.4x in 2013 over Q1 2012.” Fluhr said, “we're growing relatively fast and book publishing and chats with authors is part of this growth.”
“Mobile accessibility is a critical part of our long-term strategy,” Fluhr said, “We’re very excited about this announcement because it represents a significant step forward on our path to connecting people through conversation.”
