It's already a common habit especially among travelers to let hotel staff wake them up through a wake-up call. The same principle is applied to this new app called the Wakie.
Fresh from a $1 million funding, Wakie now allows more people to be woken up by someone-this time, a complete stranger. This app, which has been around for some time in the Russian market where it's called Budist, is available to both wakers (those who wish to wake up someone) and sleepyheads (those who need someone to wake them up).
Users, nevertheless, should take note that while anyone can be a Waker, Sleepyheads can only come from selected countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, USA, and Canada. Moreover, the app is downloadable in Google Play and Windows Phone stores only. It still needs the approval from Apple.
How does it work? Everyone can sign up using their phone number, which will never be shared throughout the wake-up process unless both parties have agreed and consented to share more personal information. Sleepyheads can sign up and indicate their preferred time to be woken up. The Wakers, meanwhile, can look for a list of Sleepyheads with their wake-up schedule.
When the schedule arrives, the Wakers can choose to wake someone up. In turn, the Sleepyhead can receive a call from a person of opposite gender and similar age. Both can then talk up to a minute. Sleepyheads will then have the chance to rent their Waker.
In cases where there's no Waker available, the app functions like a regular alarm clock.
Whether this app is going to change the dating scene, it's premature to tell. What's clear is it's getting the buzz from major tech sites such as Gizmodo and The Next Web. Its Google Play page also brags 1.5 million users and 30 million calls made.
Since many people are struggling to wake up in the morning, different technologies such as apps have been designed to make it easier. These include SpinMe, which only stops the alarm sound if you spin with the phone in hand.