Reqvu App Crowdsources Requests

Reqvu is a Taiwan-based startup that lets users crowdsource their requests. For example, if you want to see what’s happening live at ABC Bar, a random user can actually take a video and load it for you. Also, if you miss a wedding you can ask your friends on Reqvu to take pictures/videos in real-time when the ceremony starts. A curse or a beauty, Reqvu even lets you select specific friends to help you carry out the request.

It also has an action mode where a user can switch it on and act as a “reporter.” For example, I can toggle action mode and choose ABC Bar as my location. It is sort of like a check-in that tells other users that I’m there and will be able to fulfill requests at that location. Another feature is ‘me2’ – which means that you want the same request and can also ‘fulfill’ it – where you help to fulfill a request by taking a pic, video, or sharing a link.

Reqvu is essentially a Facebook app with a mobile app skin. Something that irks me is that every action is posted on my wall. I do have the ability to prevent it but it’s still kinda annoying.

I tried Reqvu for awhile and realized that it doesn’t really add much value because there’s something called Google or Baidu that can help me get my request done faster. If all else fails, Quora, Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter are there to help. The only real value-adding part of the app, I feel, is its photo and video sharing. But I don’t see why I need Reqvu to do that. Instead of sending in a request and hoping that things get done, I could simply call up a friend and ask them to take a video of what happened at a wedding which I missed.

Personally, I think Reqvu needs to gain traction before it can be really useful. It needs a community of people who’re willing to help fulfill requests fast enough for users to see its value. That’s kinda tough because the requests that I’m seeing at Reqvu look mediocre — the content has no nutrients in it. But at Quora, people tend to answer questions because they want to be seen as a ‘thought leader’ in a certain field.

Anyway, go ahead and give Reqvu a try (iTunes link) and let us know what you think.