There is something rather challenging about developing and creating a mobile phone application or app. Now with SnapLion, anyone can take a stab at putting designs out there.
As SnapLion’s website says, it is “an online platform to create sleek, interactive, native mobile apps for anyone who wants to engage their fans and followers in real-time — anytime, anywhere.”
Founded by a group of four friends, SnapLion emerged about three months ago and has developed apps for celebrities like Anoushka Shankar.
It came about when SnapLion co-founder and director Tapan Raj wanted an app for his music band Midival Punditz and discovered how expensive, time consuming, and technically challenging the process could be.
“We realised we had to be very specific with what we wanted and had to continuously project manage the developers,” he says. “Any changes or updates will delay development and make it incrementally expensive.”
CEO Aditya Kapoor says,“If you are having a music band, or in the arts or even running a restaurant, you continuously have new content to share with fans and customers. Here is where having a mobile app is invaluable.”
That’s why they ensure that SnapLion works fast (as we spoke, the founders built an app from scratch), and doesn’t cost too much. A month’s subscription costs about Rs. 2,000.
“The pricing model is based on how established the field is and what advance features are used,” Mr. Kapoor says. “For example, restaurants, clubs and bars pay more than a photographer or an artist.”
Also for those who would like a personalised app but have no technical skills, SnapLion provides all help. A simple registration process takes the user to the dashboard, where different sections can be added like bios, news, events and fanwall.
“For someone savvy with Facebook and other social media, it shouldn’t take longer than an hour or so to upload your content. It’s all drag-n-drop,” says Mr. Kapoor. “Once the content is uploaded, the site runs checks for missing data. If all is well, we synthesise that the content into an app and submit it to Google and Apple.” The app then goes through Apple and Google’s review processes and is published on Apple’s iTunes or Google’s Android App store, Google Play.
The founders named it SnapLion because “apps get developed here in snap, real quick.” Their future plans include ensuring that everyone has a chance to have a mobile presence.
As Raj says, “Films and television shows are verticals. We are looking to explore along with sport teams and restaurants. But really, anyone can use our website to build themselves a mobile app.”
