Former AOL executive Jon Brod launched on Wednesday an app aimed at professionals who can send private messages that disappear once they are read.<\/p>\n
The new company Confide takes a page from the highly popular Snapchat, the mobile app embraced by teens that allows users to exchange fleeting photos and messages.<\/p>\n
“This is optimized for professionals and business people,” said Brod, who co-founded Confide with Yext co-founder Howard Lerman and entrepreneur Dan Sutera.<\/p>\n
The “off-the-record” messaging app can work in the place of confidential emails, phone conversations or communication through a personal email.<\/p>\n
“It’s up to the person, company and industry to understand and abide by compliance,” Brod said.<\/p>\n
A person can download the free app in the Apple App Store and connect with another through an email that directs the reader to the app.<\/p>\n
There is no word limit set for messages though Confide reveals messages in about 25 characters as an added layer of protection against screen shots.<\/p>\n
The idea for the app came about when Brod and Lerman played phone tag when trying to discuss a recommendation for a potential new hire for Lerman. The men didn’t want a digital record of their conversation but it took six days to finally connect by phone.<\/p>\n
For now, Brod, who is the co-founder of the news site Patch that was bought by AOL in 2009, said Confide is concentrating on attracting people to use the app rather than on revenue.<\/p>\n
App Store sales hit $10 billion in 2013<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n