By Pascal Oparada, Social Media/Tech Reporter
We have heard of several messaging apps like Telegram, WeChat, Facebook-owned Messenger, Bumble and of course, the behemoth, WhatsApp.
There is a new kid on the block -Yeo, complete with facial recognition, end-to-end encryption and geo-fencing that wants to go head to head with WhatsApp.
The father-daughter owned app may be the next big thing in messaging technology. According to the founders, Alan Jones and Sara Norford-Jones, the app intends to succeed where other messaging platforms like WhatsApp failed – privacy.
Yeo puts the power in the sender’s hands and not in the recipients. The sender determines when and where the recipient can view a message. You can delete a file, message, or image from the recipient’s app at any time and they can’t download, forward or copy it. That is the power Yeo puts in the sender’s hands.
The technology is two-fold. The first is facial recognition scanning that ensures content can only be unlocked when your face is in view. When you turn away from the screen or leave your phone on your desk and the message, image or file will disappear — useful if you have colleagues with nosy or prying eyes or housemates.
It uses AI to pick your face from different angles even when you wear a mask just make sure the screen light is bright enough.
The geo-fencing technology in Yeo allows you to restrict where a recipient can view or open your message even to a specific location.
“Imagine your team is working on a new product and only want the designs to be viewable in the office, or a couple wants to share photos they’ll only be able to open at home,” says Jones. “Simply set the geo-fence perimeter and the recipient will only be able to open your content in the location you chose.”
Yeo, which stands for “Your Eyes Only” is available on trial versions and has surpassed the 5,000 free download targets in January.
The founders hope to take it into corporations for businesses. The desktop and web version is in the works, says Jones.