Audio-based social network launched

A NEW Irish start-up has created an audio-based social network to help radio stations connect more easily with its listeners

A NEW Irish start-up has created an audio-based social network to help radio stations connect more easily with its listeners. Founded by Patricia Baker, uVoice allows comment and discussion through speech as opposed to text and has already attracted the interest of some Dublin stations.

UVoice is designed to be integrated into an existing website and allows companies to ask questions, to which the audience can record a response.

Ms Baker said the tool could create an online equivalent to the traditional vox-pop which is used regularly in radio reports, one that was less work to compile and more representative of the wider audience.

“This means stations do not have to send out researchers and the answers are not confined to one area – they can be from listeners everywhere.”

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Although radio is the prime market being targeted at present, Ms Baker sees uVoice having a role in companies where public engagement is necessary.

South Dublin County Council, NGO group Dóchas and Cardiff University are trialling the service.

“We’re on our way to get the funding we need to help drive sales of the product, which we hope to do globally and not just in Ireland,” said Ms Baker.

The company was recently involved in the National Digital Research Centre’s LaunchPad programme, which saw it receive €15,000 for software development as part of a three-month process. It has also secured a €50,000 investment from US private equity firm Darjon Investment.

“Being involved in LaunchPad was a fantastic learning curve too as it makes you focused and forced us to go out and engage,” said Ms Baker.

In the near future the company hopes to make it possible to integrate the service with Facebook, in addition to plans to develop apps for mobile platforms beyond the iPhone.

Users also have the option of leaving comments via a browser or a phone number.