Conferences, weddings and parties often have their own websites, but the founders of a new app builder called Yapp want to replace those online pages with mobile apps.
"The thing about events by definition is that when you go to an event you're mobile," co-founder Maria Seidman tells Mashable. "You’re not in front of your computer."
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On Wednesday, Yapp launched a free private beta version of its event-focused app builder.
It allows users to build an event app within minutes by choosing the design template of their choice and then adding key info like addresses, schedules and, in the case of a wedding or conference app, bio pages.
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The apps have news feeds where everyone invited can chat or upload group photos.
While other DIY app builders such as TheAppBuilder, AppsBuilder, Buzztouch and AppBreeder emphasize their customizable interfaces, Yapp is focused on offering cookie-cutter solutions for the most common app use cases.
"The app is not going to be a platform for you," Seidman says, though the company does plan to expand beyond events in the future.
In exchange for the inflexibility of the platform, users get prettier apps and a builder interface that is about as easy to use as a Tumblr blog. When they're done, the can publish to the app store and mobile web for free (eventually Yapp will charge to add some app features).
Yapp is the most basic app builder we've seen. You're not going to build the next Angry Birds or even tout your small business's brand using the platform, but Seidman believes there's still plenty of potential for generic apps.
"[With web pages], tools came into the market that made it really easy for people to create a blog or a website for the PTA," Seidman says. "We think the same thing will happen with apps, but at a much more rapid rate."
Image courtesy of iStockphoto, piovesempre
This story originally published on Mashable here.
