The Sound Pipe Media

Please describe your organization. What is your position?

We are entrepreneurs and founders of a gaming and contest app. The app is called Rate My Recipe. It's an online game where users can go and create virtual recipes. If they make the recipe in real life and post it on social media, they earn points. If users reach the top of the leader board each month, they can win real money.

What business challenge were you trying to address with The Sound Pipe Media?

Once we had come up with the concept of the app, we needed a company to work with us to develop the app that we had in mind. We had an idea, and we wanted somebody to put that idea into practice and make it reality. We didn't know how to code or how to design the app. We partnered with The Sound Pipe Media to help us bring our concept to life.

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

We gave The Sound Pipe Media an idea and a brief of what we wanted, and they produced the wireframes and the specifications needed to build our iOS app. They also designed all the logos, the imagery, the page layout. We gave them a bit of guidance with that. They also integrated PayPal into the back-end of the app and provided us with a CMS [content management system] that we could work with.

Since then, they've done a lot testing and they've helped us by doing research on what keywords we needed in our descriptions to increase the app's visibility.

How did you come to work with The Sound Pipe Media?

We did some online research on various iOS developers and found The Sound Pipe Media. We looked into their previous work and their credentials. We saw that they had a great client list, and we reached out to them as well as a few other developers. We discussed our idea with them, and Sound Pipe sounded like the ones that understood our idea the most. That's what made them stand out from the rest of the pack.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

The size of the project was in the $50,000 to $100,000 range.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership with The Sound Pipe Media is still ongoing. The app launched earlier this year [2015], but they still maintain and update the app.  

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

Our app has just launched, so we don't have any metrics or feedback to offer, but the app is doing really well.

How did The Sound Pipe Media perform from a project management standpoint?

Overall, we are satisfied with The Sound Pipe Media's performance on this project. They had great ideas, and did a fantastic job carrying them through.

What distinguishes The Sound Pipe Media from other providers?

The Sound Pipe Media is incredibly flexible. I have a full-time job, so this is just an add-on for me, and they're very good at working around my schedule. They don't just work nine to five, which is great. They are available whenever I need them. That was one of the considerations for who we took on because I can't be dealing with this during my full-time job.

Are there areas in which they could improve, or things you might do differently?

Sometimes, if we've got a problem, they'll say "It wasn't in the specs, so we can't do it. We have to charge you." One thing I would change is that we went through the specs together in more detail. But, at that early stage in the project, we didn't understand what we were supposed to be looking for or looking at. But, all in all, it was a great project.

My partner and I started a new project application, which allows users to get apps on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis subject to their preferences. So, for example, if you like puzzle games, the app will recommend puzzle games for the user.

This platform is really a mobile app discovery platform based on preference searches for users. When users build up, we will target developers to come and advertise inside the app whereby we will charge per install.

We want to establish an area of niche, such as preference apps for women, whereby we can also target children through mothers. 

My job title is director of the company. My key responsibility is to manage the process of the app.

The challenge was to create a platform, which will filter out all the apps in the App Store. The company’s goal was to create a platform and then move into allowing independent developers to host their apps through our platform. Ideally, once we establish a user base, we will become an incubator for new independent apps. We will allow users to vote for their best apps and then fund the top ones.

The scope included planning, wire framing, designing, development, maintenance, support, and hosting. Agile development was used. We did a little bit of testing in-house, but they handled almost everything. 

We selected native mobile app development as our key choice because we needed a stable app to run on iOS and Android devices. Native was the best choice, which The Sound Pipe Media suggested.

They were set apart from the other developers because of their great portfolio of apps and client list. The project cost was around $120,000, and we completed it in early September of 2014. 

Customer feedback is in the fairly early stages. We’ve had some great feedback from customers so far, but need more users to get an accurate picture. We felt we selected the right platform for this project.

The Sound Pipe Media performed very well. The project was on schedule and on budget. Their responsiveness throughout was great. The project was wrapped up cleanly. They have great ideas in growing the app for a bigger audience and were able to consult in the marketing process, which the other companies didn’t provide or had no knowledge of. This was a great plus. We are currently working with them on more projects now.

There could only be some small improvements on the timing for deliverables. The minor delays were partly our fault because we changed the requirements. The app works well so we are satisfied. I recommend The Sound Pipe Media to others.

AntiBall is a new game-enhancing concept where players morph into superheroes with extraordinary football skills and magical powers, bringing together the combination of action and adventure characters in dramatic settings while creating an amazing and compelling game environment.

I am the founder, responsible for strategy, IP [Internet protocol], financing, operations, and business development. I have a Master’s of Science – IT [information technology] post-graduate degree, [honours] bachelor of commerce degree in cconomics, and offer 22 years of experience in senior sales and marketing roles in large multinational corporations, with extensive distributor channel marketing and business development in U.K., Europe, India, Middle East and Africa. Along with my two sons, we are responsible for project managing and feedback testing on this gaming platform.

We have exciting plans to franchise established action characters from major Hollywood design studios and superstar sports figures from FIFA [Federation Internationale de Football Association] and other sports associations. AntiBall is unique because we are creating the next stage soccer run-style game in 3-D for the World Cup and then transforming this into a virtual reality game using gyro techniques.

Our business challenge was to create a five-a-side soccer game specifically designed to take full advantage of motion features of tablets and smartphones as against the majority of current competitors who have ported “lite,” i.e. de-featured and cumbersome versions of existing console games to tablets and smartphones.

However after meeting Taj [Dhunay, the founder of The Sound Pipe Media], we opened our eyes into a new world of 3-D technology. He showed us some great examples of 3-D virtualization supported by augmented reality. We then decided to move the direction of the business in a different way, which is much more exciting and new.

We are now approaching the business in a new and innovative way, and I’m sure this will be a very exciting game and something that hasn’t been done before.

The scope included an in depth analysis of what our business goals were. We did this first in our planning stage. After that, we went through a detailed wireframe-scoping document, which was edited, by us and The Sound Pipe Media.

We subsequently started the 3-D design, designing of the application and environment building for the app. The app project involved planning, design, development on iOS/Android, support maintenance and marketing, and user acquisition. We had a tight deadline so the development process was rapid application development.

We chose Unity 3D for this development software, as it is the most reliable software platform for developing virtual and other 3-D games. We also have access to a lot of plugins and support. The selection process was detailed. Sound Pipe Media showed us a few software packages we could use a long with advantages and disadvantages. Others cost a lot and didn’t do what we needed. So for the long run, Unity 3D was the best choice for us.

We did some detailed research into software app development companies on the net and through recommendations. We met Taj at a business networking event and he showed us some great demos there. We then began to research the company online and their online presence was strong. We also called a few of their clients for testimonials and got some great feedback from them.

Following our shortlist, The Sound Pipe Media offered the best solution and value for money, which is why we chose them out of the other four that we shortlisted previously. Their previous work in this area and their ability to talk things through easily gave them a big edge against the other companies. We are not technical people. We just had our concept and wanted it done. They explained everything easily and simply so we understood it.

We were involved in the project management, testing, and reviewing of the application. Sound Pipe Media were involved in wireframing, designing, development, and marketing of the application. We were able to develop some planning, and strategic business development in house. The project cost about $130,000 and was completed on May 30, 2014.

Results of the development and design were great. We have had positive feedback so far. We will have a big launch around the World Cup and really market the app heavily then. At the moment, we are just in beta launch and tweaking a few things.

I think The Sound Pipe Media could have improved the design of the characters, but we also had a short space of time to perfect it the way we wanted. They did say to us they need more time to make sure everything is perfected from their end. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time.

We have yet to get real in depth feedback from customers until we launch fully. We definitely selected the right partner to work with after having met and spoken with four other potential suppliers. We already have suggestions for Phase 2 and are talking about the next phase now and should be starting July or August of 2014.

The agreed scope and specification was covered in the agreed price. Any additional development was agreed upon first, which we understood. They were very responsive. They were flexible to some extent as not everything we wanted could be done under the cost we hoped for. However, their quality of work reflects their prices also, which was high.

We’ve only worked with The Sound Pipe Media on developing this app. This is our first app. Having said that, The Sound Pipe Media were the only ones who from the very first meeting were willing to help us achieve our objectives by adding value rather than force things on us. This was a very important criterion in the final decision to select them.

I think they did a great job on the development. I can’t say much wrong about the work that was delivered. I would definitely recommend The Sound Pipe Media to others.

I’m a serial entrepreneur and our first application project is an app called Type. It’s unique because it allows you to message anyone in your local area without connecting to them. You can send a message to connect to them, so you always stay in touch even when you’re not in your local area. It has a lot of cool features, which I’m sure will be successful on the App Store. It was my idea. I acted as the project manager.

The challenge was to get youngsters to start interacting with each other in their local area. If they like each other, they can message one another. Not many apps allow you to message each other like you would in a real-life situation. I played project management and a funding role. Their principal handled project management and his developers would design and develop the app. They are really good app developers. The main objective is to make a successful app work and to get a large amount of users as it's a social network.

The work included design, development, testing, and launch. We used the waterfall methodology for the work. We selected iOS and Android devices to distribute the app on as they are the most popular devices being sold currently. This will allow us to distribute the app to a wide audience of mobile users.

We searched widely on the Internet and came across The Sound Pipe Media. We tendered for the work and Sound Pipe Media was shortlisted as the strongest candidate and most reliable company to work with. With their track record of social networking apps, we thought there was a good chance that the app would be created effectively.

Their track record of clients blew us away, and the fact that they’re based in Mayfair, London, was a massive bonus. We’re also based in London, so it was very convenient for us. The Sound Pipe Media was involved from the beginning. We only had the idea, and they made it come to life. They created wireframes, planning and UI/UX [user interface/user experience] designs. Then, when we were fully happy with everything, we tested the designs with focus groups, got the feedback, and tweaked the app. We started development and used focus groups to test and make the app perfect. So, from planning to UAT [user acceptance testing], they did it all. We had no headaches. We were able to do testing and feedback in house. The app cost around $30,000 and was completed in March of 2014.

We’re just tweaking one area of the app now, and then we will be launching. But, so far from the focus groups, the results have been very good. They performed extremely well. We were surprised with their quick response and hard work. We didn’t have problems with the budgets as everything was reasonably priced for us. They delivered before the deadline and within our budget. The project was wrapped up cleanly.

They were very knowledgeable in the app development area. They gave us a lot of insight and knowledge of how the industry works, which was very useful. They spent a lot of time with us, and the whole experience was great. I have no complaints and was really happy. We will use them and recommend them again for any future projects.

Please describe your company. 

We are a small tech startup with two initial employees. We are based in London. We are an early stage company. 

What is your role and responsibilities?

My role is project manager. I am primarily responsible with liaising with The Sound Pipe Media and their team to deliver the specification of the project.

What were your company's business goals for the project?

Our goal was to develop an app, which was similar to Instagram but a little different. The app would allow users to follow people and then upload a five-second video of their moment so others can see, like, and comment. The objective was to gain high traction from the app with a large user base, which we're in the process of doing and working with The Sound Pipe Media to acquire users and develop the app further. With the assistance of The Sound Pipe Media, we were able to achieve our business objectives successfully, being app development on iOS and Android device, get an excellent user interface, fully functional app, and user acquisition and landing page site.

Can you talk about the scope of the project?

The project involved designing, branding, logo, app development in iOS, Android, training, and support. The development model used was agile. The development of the app took five months to complete. 

What was your process for selecting The Sound Pipe Media?

The Sound Pipe Media was recommended by a friend. Having visited the website, I became aware of its client profile, and this had provided me with some confidence that the company was suitable to be shortlisted based on its experience. Following my first telephone conversation with Taj [Dhunay, CEO and founder of The Sound Pipe Media], he reassured me that The Sound Pipe Media was able to develop the app within the agreed time and budget.

More importantly, Taj’s personal approach with wanting to help with other non-development aspects of the project, such as marketing, had really set his company apart from other firms.

The Sound Pipe Media was selected because of its uniqueness, we felt the company and its services differed from many other companies. The company was able to deliver our business goals for the project within the agreed period, and at the right budget.

Taj provided us with a background of his development team and, reassured us that the company had the relevant experience to develop the app required for our business. I found it helpful that Taj was very approachable and open when answering specific questions about the development of the app itself.  

In what parts of the project was The Sound Pipe Media involved?

The Sound Pipe Media was responsible for the development of the app as a whole, this included design and development of the iOS/Android app, website development, and marketing.

Can you provide a sense of the size of the initiative with a general cost range?

The project ended up costing $50,000.

When was the project completed?

It was completed in October of 2013.

What were the results of the project?

The feedback was great. We received positive feedback and some suggestions for improvement, which we are undergoing soon in Phase 2.

How did The Sound Pipe Media perform?

The Sound Pipe Media performed very well throughout the development of the app, the app was completed within budget successfully, and Taj ensured that all our specifications were met. Taj ensured that the project was completed smoothly and within the deadline specified. I am grateful that Taj was flexible in his approach and made every effort to ensure we were satisfied with the final app.  

When working with The Sound Pipe Media was there anything unique or special about them compared to other companies with which you might have worked? 

My experience with working with The Sound Pipe Media and, in particular with Taj, has proven to be highly valuable. From the start of the project, Taj made me aware of the need for flexibility and reasonableness when it comes to app development, he explained that both parties would need to adopt this approach to allow the project to be completed successfully. Taj made me very confident that not only was he interested in the development of the app, but also in the app being a success.

The service provided was excellent, and it greatly differed from many other companies who simply lost interest or dedication in your project once receiving payment. Taj’s approach is more unique and customer focused, he remained committed throughout the project, and provided assistance with non-development aspects, such as with marketing. The Sound Pipe Media strives to meet customer’s expectations and continued in their approach even when the app had been completed, this would always encourage me to continuing working on any future projects with them.  

Looking back on the project, is there any area that The Sound Pipe Media could improve or you would do differently? 

In terms of any areas for improvements, I believe that the project could have been improved by our side, we could have given some additions, which we wanted but couldn’t get as the project budget may have increased.

In relation to whether we would do the project any differently, I would probably have done more research initially in some other features of the app. I would, therefore, make sure that I adopt this approach with any future projects with The Sound Pipe Media. 

Please describe your firm.

We are a small boutique software firm based in London, England. We have about five full-time employees and serve major customers around Europe. We are asked to produce major apps for household names in Europe and the U.K.

What is your role and responsibilities?

I am one of the managers and I was responsible for managing the projects with The Sound Pipe Media. I also perform day-to-day tasks for the outsourced projects like dealing with the budget and testing.

What was your goal for the work with The Sound Pipe Media?

We needed to find a development partner that we could send projects to on a regular basis. We were looking to outsource the work since the U.K. market is very expensive. We tried giving The Sound Pipe Media one app project, and they did great.

After that, we decided to increase the app projects that we sent them. We had them create an app for a major soccer club in the U.K. and a global car company.

Can you discuss the scope of the project?

The project involved mainly design and development for three app projects. However, they also provided training and support. They explained different things to us. The apps had very few problems, so not much support was needed.

What was your process for selecting The Sound Pipe Media with which to work?

We did a Google search for firms in the U.K. We looked at the websites and portfolios of each firm and then created a short list based on their offerings. Our main criterion was technical skill and a deep record of success.

We selected The Sound Pipe Media for these reasons after talking with their team. We also were happy with their speed of delivery. We needed someone who could manage and complete the project from start to finish. My organization didn't contribute any of the design elements or development. We ultimately chose the best firm.

Can you give us a sense of the size of the initiative in dollar terms?

It was more than $60,000 for the average project.

When was the last project completed?

It was completed a few months ago. All of the projects have taken four to five months to complete.

What were the results of the project?

All of our customers are very happy and provided good feedback about the iOS apps. Apple actually featured it on their website. We are very proud of the results, the clients are satisfied, and that is all that matters.

How did The Sound Pipe Media perform?

They performed very well. All of their work is great quality, and they respond very quickly. They are an excellent firm that always delivered on time.

What else is unique or special about The Stand Pipe Media that stands out compared to other information technology firms?

They gave great advice regarding enhanced features and user acquisition. They understand the app business and how people consume and choose apps. They treated the project like their own and really put in a lot of effort to make it successful.

Looking back on the work, is there anything that you think The Sound Pipe Media could improve upon, or something that you might do differently looking back?

No. Nothing.

Please describe your company and your position there.

Director.

For what projects/services did your company hire The Sound Pipe Media?

To fix existing problems and develop some remaining functionalities.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal was to take the app, learn the code and the functionalities, and fix the problems described in the trello cards plus add the new functionalities discussed.

How did you select this vendor?

through internet and location. I needed an agency in london.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Well, here it is. They completely over promised results in the discussion phase, they kept telling me it would be a piece of cake and that we didnt need any sit down to go through each requirements. What happened is that they rushed through the code and didnt ask any question about what exactly they had to fix. End result is that they came back 2 month late and were totally off what was discussed. The worst part was they held the code in hostage and didnt want to admit any wrongdoing. It has been a nightmare, they are terrible at conflict resolution and I had to threaten to call a lawyer for them to give me back the code... Guess what, they sent me the code with almost no changes (UI only) whereas I had paid 70% already. On top of that they told some functionalities could not be fixed, like it was impossible. I realized later by hiring someone else it could be done easily.

What was the team composition?

1 ios developer 1 android developer

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

It had a dreadful impact. I lost 3months. I started with an app with issues and got almost the same back to me (except UI changes) after having lost 70% of what I paid. Can you believe the blackmailed me with the code and did not admit any errors. Even the fact they did not communicate or refused my feedback or sitdowns, they just couldnt say it.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Terrible. worst ever. I think the project manager has little experience with managing stakeholders in a project, even they are a few. The problem is that he was managing multiple projects at the same time, not only mine. He would give you small updates randomly (not even calls). Also what was terrible was his understanding of how things should be done. Totally off.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to over promise and under deliver. Also their terrible understanding of client needs.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Communication Client needs understanding Project management Conflict resolution Professional behaviour due diligence