Southern Cross Austereo Launches BETA Stage Radio Streaming App

The future of digital product development could be launching an app at the BETA stage and actively listening to consumer feedback argued Vijay Solanki (pictured), director of digital and innovation at Southern Cross Austereo (SCA).

Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) has announced a new, free mobile app RadioApp. The radio streaming app features a simple and sleek interface which makes it easier to tune into live streams of FM radio shows. The app features all of SCA’s radio stations, as well as ABC and Fairfax radio networks.

“We’ve built something that we think is a quite solid product, it has got a really neat user experience, but we’re looking today to really get the industry to do two things,” he told B&T.

Firstly, the RadioApp will be launched at the BETA stage so that SCA can evaluate consumer feedback from media experts, thought leaders, early media adopters and forward-thinking consumer.

“We’re taking very much an agile approach to product development and a more collaborative approach. You build something, you listen to consumer feedback and you use that feedback to develop future functionality,” Solvanki said.

“We’ve got our own view of our future road map, but the reason we’re doing this and pushing the BETA. Is we want to hear from people within the industry and lead users, we’ll definitely listen to the feedback around the app and what makes the most sense.”

Launching something at a BETA stage “allows you to be much more consumer driven at an earlier stage. You develop more meaningful products better and faster, because it’s real feedback”.

Secondly, the RadioApp will be a neutral platform. The app will be available to other partners and competitors within the industry, to put their brand’s stations on the app.

“We would love to build something that benefits all of us. We’ve obviously got ABC and Fairfax on there, we have other conversations pending. We absolutely invite other partners to come to the party.”

Solvanki would not comment on when the finished RadioApp will be launched, how much consumer feedback SCA will be reviewing or what media names are interested in using the platform.

RadioApp is available for free download via the Apple and Google Play stores.

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