 "Messaging app 'Hike' rises in global mkt")
Hike, an instant messaging (IM) application developed by Bharti Softbank, which is a joint venture of Bharti Enterprises and Japan’s Softbank Corporation, is standing firm in the global market.
Launched in December 2012, the free messaging application has already hit 15 million users and is still counting.
“About 80 per cent of our users are based in India, including a large segment in Uttar Pradesh,” said Hike head (business development) Saif Attari on Wednesday.
“The app can be downloaded for free and occupies 15-20 MB in the smartphone,” he stated.
The unique attribute of the messaging app is that it allows users to connect with peers through ‘hike offline’. Through this feature the message gets delivered in the form of an SMS to a feature phone and the reply will be received as a hike message.
“This attribute was critical, as feature phones still occupy three-quarters of the phone market in India,” Attari said.
Going forward, the company aims to become the top youth messaging platform in India.
Launched in December 2012, the free messaging application has already hit 15 million users and is still counting.
“About 80 per cent of our users are based in India, including a large segment in Uttar Pradesh,” said Hike head (business development) Saif Attari on Wednesday.
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He informed the company’s growth had largely been organic through word of mouth publicity. Hike has development centre in Delhi with a young team manning the IT start up. BSB has recently infused Rs 84 crore to top up its Rs 42 crore funding in April 2013.
“The app can be downloaded for free and occupies 15-20 MB in the smartphone,” he stated.
The unique attribute of the messaging app is that it allows users to connect with peers through ‘hike offline’. Through this feature the message gets delivered in the form of an SMS to a feature phone and the reply will be received as a hike message.
“This attribute was critical, as feature phones still occupy three-quarters of the phone market in India,” Attari said.
Going forward, the company aims to become the top youth messaging platform in India.