Mobile-marketplace startup Shout takes a real-time approach to what are essentially classified ads. The company’s iOS app, which is largely being used to sell tickets for concerts or Broadway shows, only works in New York City right now, according to TechCrunch.
An advertiser makes a “Shout”—a post looking for or offering something for sale—that is linked to a location, a price and a short description. Once another user of the service accepts a Shout, the two parties are put into a real-time chat to clarify details, then payment can be made within the app. Shout doesn’t currently charge a transaction fee, though it probably will eventually.
The year-old startup handles the transaction lifecycle, verifies the seller, processes payments and takes care of customer support. The app, which is being ported to Android devices, offers categories that allow users to narrow their searches for items of buy or sell.
Most of Shout’s classifieds competitors, such as Yakaz and Antego are similar to Craigslist, with a conventional approach to list and sell items.
Although tickets are Shout’s current bread-and-butter, co-founders Zachariah Reitano and Henri Stern said that several actors have joined the platform to offer services such as delivering a rose while reciting Shakespeare, or pranking friends and then sending the video to the user.
