Like passing around a soccer ball, a new made-in-Fargo app called Kycker allows you to “kick” messages and photos to anyone around you within a 200 foot radius. The hyper-local communication app designed by AdShark co-founders Sean Maki and Rick Berg uses Apple’s iBeacon technology to communicate with other app users, communicating via Bluetooth.

“It could be very useful in high schools, colleges, concerts, or sporting events,” Maki said. “Any place with a high density of people.”

The real kicker (ahem), is that the close range makes everything you see in Kycker highly relevant. Rather than having to add a certain hashtag to make it relevant, as with the Twittersphere, Kycker is automatically relevant because you’re only seeing messages from people around you, Maki said.

You can also make new friends. When using the app, you are able to see others that are also using the app in your proximity, can browse their profile, and send photos or texts about what’s going on around you.

Kycker privacy

Sounds potentially creepy? I thought so, too. Seems reminiscent of Facebook’s feature that shows who is around you. But in my experience, this feature has proven useful – like at a concert where you can go online and see if anyone you know is in the audience as well. Pretty exciting.

Of course, a feature like this can be abused by creepers – which is why Maki encourages users to report any poor Kycker sportsmanship.

The profile is not comprehensive, either. Rather than putting Facebook-level information on display, Kycker merely asks for your name, a profile shot, and your social security. No, not the latter. But perhaps you could add your relationship status…(Kinder, anyone?) (Just kidding, please no.)

The iBeacon boom

Maki and Berg were inspired to begin work on Kycker after participating in one of Myriad Mobile’s mobile meet-up events. They were intrigued by the ability of every iPhone to act as an iBeacon – a fact that didn’t quite “make it through the clamor” of the iPhone 5 and 5s release back in 2013, according to an article by Bluetooth.

“iBeacon creates a signal around whatever region you choose,” writes Steven Hegenderfer in the article. “The app is alerted via Bluetooth technology when users enter the zone. iBeacon helps users find their way around a crowded store, to a particular location, and even deliver ads to customers.”

“Now when developers really get on the beacon bandwagon, the potential is unlimited,” he writes.

Three years later, it seems the untapped potential of the iBeacon technology is starting to sink in – but very slowly. According to ABI research,  by 2019, iBeacon/Bluetooth (BLE) shipments will create a 60 million unit market.

A 2015 article lists 5 Best iBeacon apps that are leading the pack, claiming that “Beacons and apps are a ‘power couple’” – but I’ve never heard of them. (Maybe I’m out of the loop. I’ll let you decide.)

As for Kycker, Maki hopes to tap into its ability not only as a communication tool, but eventually as a way to enhance the in-store experience.

“Say I’m at Best Buy looking at CDs, you have to pull up the Best Buy app and it sends info to my device. But Kycker could take in extra information from being in the store,” Maki said.” There’s an opportunity there for advertisements as well.”

As for competition, other apps that are similar to Kycker are usually anonymous with a much larger radius, Maki said. He and Berg opted to not go anonymous as a way to keep communication more transparent, and avoid less spam that often occurs with anonymity. They kept the radius at 200 feet because that is the limitations of Bluetooth, Maki said.

Thus far, the two-man team has bootstrapped their way to create the minimum viable product with Kycker, Maki said. They launched it for iOS month ago, and currently have around 100 users he said. As they move forward, Maki said they hope to raise funds for marketing, and to make it available for Android as well.

As for their BHAG – Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal – Maki said, “we want to be the platform for hyper-local communication, using your immediate proximity.”

Kyck on!

Photos courtesy of Kycker