This is the first acquisition by Hike and is aimed at expanding its product range in the Internet-based communication space
India’s homegrown chat application Hike messenger has acquired US-based free voice-calling company Zip Phone for an undisclosed sum. This is the first acquisition by Hike and is aimed at expanding Hike’s product range in the Internet-based communication space.
Founded by Anuj Jain in the US, Zip Phone has developed a voice-calling app that works globally. It automatically detects the contacts in a user’s phone and routes calls through 3G or WiFi. The user never has to open the app, except after installation. The startup was part of Y Combinator’s summer batch of 2014.
Kavin Bharti Mittal, Founder and CEO, Hike messenger said, “From day one, we’ve strongly believed that through communication, we can bring India online. With the acquisition we take one more step towards that mission. Zip Phone’s technology will allow us to bring free voice calling to the market much faster. Incidentally, this is one of the top requested features from our users as well. We can’t wait to launch this on Hike.”
It is also known that Hike’s biggest competitor WhatsApp is planning to launch its voice calling service soon.
Jain of Zip Phone said, “As a startup enthusiast, I had been keeping a close eye on Hike and its developments and I am excited to now be a part of one of the biggest and fastest growing startups in the Indian Internet space, and finally, building for India.”
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Launched in December 2012, Hike claims to have over 35 million users and has raised US$86 million from Tiger Global and Bharti SoftBank till date.
The app has a young user base with over 90 per cent of its users being under the age of 25 and residing in India. The chat application has localised features, which are developed keeping in mind the infrastructural and cultural requirements such as Hike Offline which lets a user message their friends even when they’re offline. The hidden mode allows users to hide their private chats with a password, and the chat app has launched regional stickers which helps users express more in their own language.
Over-the-top (OTT) players such as WhatsApp, Skype, Viber, WeChat have been quite popular among people for international calling, thereby causing a loss of revenues for telecom service providers in India. Recently, they have been facing heat from telecom players.
Bharti Airtel, one of India’s largest mobile network operator recently announced its plans to charge higher tariff for voice calls through popular Internet service providers such as Skype, Viber, Facebook Messenger and Google Hangouts. This move led to a huge outcry and the operator was forced to withdraw its decision. In November last year, Skype also discontinued its voice calling services to mobiles and landline phones within India.
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