Trutap launches beta at TechCrunch40

I’ve been following the launch and development of Trutap for a long time. I’m on the beta list and I’m hoping to get an invite shortly. In fact if you’re quick, point your phone browser to http://trutap.com and see if you can register.

Trutap is the next generation service from the guys behind Hotxt, although it’s an entirely new company. If you recall, Hotxt has a huge warehouse full of developers so I’m rather excited to see what they’ve dreamed up.

I know a lot of people have been following Trutap — I’ve had a number of emails from analysts and one or two investors wanting to know more, so here’s the full text from the release:

Trutap Limited today launched the beta of trutap, the free mobile service that allows users across the world to enjoy a simple and easy way to stay connected to their social lives from the palm of their hand at TechCrunch40, in San Francisco.

Aimed at 18-24 year olds, trutap is the first service to combine all the elements of a young person’s social life into one. Users will have the ability to IM, group message, upload text and pictures to blogs and send pictures via a mobile, wherever they are, whenever they want. There are currently 600 million potential users in the target age group worldwide.

Doug Richard, co-founder and CEO of Trutap Limited commented: ‘We want to give people the freedom to expand the boundaries of their social lives and stay connected, whenever and wherever they are. Our key market is the 18-24 year olds who feel real anxiety when they are unable to communicate with their friends continuously. Missing out on recent news, a piece of gossip, a new picture, a drink invite or a night out with pals is a real concern to them.

‘For the first time, users will have the ability to use IM services from one easy to use mobile application and shortly, will also be able to interact with their social network sites as well. People want to live life real time and share thoughts and experiences as they happen. With trutap, they can. For example, imagine you’ve just seen Sienna Miller or Kiera Knightly stroll around town. You can take a picture with your mobile and share it with all your friends instantly or upload it onto your blog or photo-sharing site in real time.

‘It’s all about constant communication; taking your group of friends with you and never missing out. It addresses the way today’s youth wants to communicate,” concluded Richard.

trutap’s beta program is available internationally*. To register for the beta program, just go to trutap.com in your mobile phone’s browser to sign up.

Doug Richard co-founder of trutap will be taking the position of CEO.

Here’s the ‘what is trutap?’ primer:

What is trutap?
– Combines all elements of a young person’s social life in one application, for the FIRST time
– Offers the ability to IM (MSN, Yahoo!, AIM (AOL) and ICQ), group message, upload text and pictures to blogs and send pictures via a mobile
· IM – access all accounts and converse with everyone at the same time
· Blog and Photo Sharing sites – supports Blogger, Blog.com, Livejournal, Flickr, Friendster, Xanga and others so text and pictures can be uploaded
· Messaging – picture messaging, online status and group message with ‘all’ reply functionality
– No need for special configuration and is easy to download
– trutap offers privacy – restrict access and block users
– trutap will also be used via a web browser from a computer shortly
– trutap is free, fun and just works!