Slangatang – A quirky soundboard app with potential

[Updated 12 May 2011: This post was a ruse for The Apprentice TV show. Read why here] The average shelf life of a smartphone app is pretty short. For free apps, only about 20 percent of users (in the case of iPhone apps) return to use the app the first day after they download it, and then it quickly drops off from there. So there is a very brief window of time to capture people’s attention and potential revenues.

Slangatang is a beta just out now of a new free sound entertainment app which allows people to listen to humorous soundbites from characters from around the world. The app is now on the Blackberry and Android markets or for Nokia phones via text (standard network rates apply, you can download the app from here (mobile download link or in BlackBerry app world).

On the face of it it’s pretty simple. But what’s more interesting is that unlike traditional Soundboard apps which are a dime a dozen, the creators have realised that it’s going to be smarter to allow users themselves to upload the quirky phrases themselves. That feature goes live soon.

Coincidentally, there’s a model for all this from a while back, but it was never applied to mobile. VoxOx, a desktop-based VOIP and chat solution with full IM and social network integration, came out last year and had a “Fun” button. This brings up a set of Soundboards that let you send audio clips over the phone, like a Terminator soundboard that lets you say “I’ll be back” to folks over the telephone. Hell, it was just fun. It’s this entertainment element which SlangaTang is aiming for.

You can’t do in-app purchases on the Android apps right now, but assuming that comes on line by next year then popular additional characters in this sound game could drive further adoption. With this crowd-sourcing element the app could additionally be monetized by releasing them as ringtones. Think ‘Audioboo for entertainment’.

Are people going to be interested enough to buy other regional accents and catch phrases? I’ll just leave that question hanging in the air. But they may have just hit on something in this gaming element. If they get it right and introduce the features they plan, it’s the kind of thing that could go viral, especially if celebrities get involved. The app is also aiming for in-screen advertising as an additional monetisation route.