hike Messenger

Hike Messenger
Word "Hike" written in blue
Initial release December 12, 2012 (2012-12-12)
Preview release
  • 4.1.0 (Android, December 20, 2015 (2015-12-20))[1]
  • 3.5.0 (Windows Phone, December 25, 2015 (2015-12-25))[2]
  • 2.6.2 (BlackBerry, May 7, 2014 (2014-05-07))[3]
  • 4.0.5 (iOS, December 28, 2015 (2015-12-28))[4]
  • 2.6.0 (Symbian)[5]
Development status Active
Operating system iOS
Android
Windows Phone
BlackBerry OS
Symbian
Size 18.74 MB(for android)
Available in 9 languages
Type Instant messaging
Voice over IP
License Freeware
Alexa rank 51,992
Website get.hike.in

Hike Messenger (stylized as hike) is a cross-platform instant messaging service for smartphones that uses the internet for communication. In addition to text messaging, users can send each other graphical stickers,[6] emoticons, images, videos, audios, files, voice messages, contacts and user location.

Hike was launched on 12 December 2012 [7] and raised its first round of funding of $7 million from Bharti SoftBank in April 2013. Hike is a joint venture between Bharti Enterprises and Softbank.[8] Hike's founder is Kavin Bharti Mittal (the son of Bharti Mittal, the founder of Airtel).

History

Launched on 12 December 2012, Hike attained 15 million users in February 2014 and raised $14 million for its development.[8] Over the next few months, the application introduced free text messaging anywhere in India, chat themes, updated stickers, hidden chats and revamped user interface. In August 2014, Hike hit 35 million users and raised another big round of funding - $65 million - led by Tiger Global.

Hike Messenger made its first acquisition, buying free voice-calling company Zip Phones, which allowed it to launch free app based calling services that are emerging as a key draw for users.[9]

In 2015, Hike launched the "Great Indian Sticker Challenge" to invite designers to design new stickers. As per the communication statistics on Hike, 30% of the traffic comes from stickers.[10]

On Oct 2015, the CEO of hike announced that the userbase of hike reached up to 70 million and more than 20 billion messages are shared each month.[11] and in December according to hike blog hike is sharing over 1 billion messages every single day and 30 billion+ messages a month.[12] As of January 2016 hike has crossed the mark of 100 million users. "Crossing 100 million users is a milestone for us and we have achieved this magic number well ahead of our expectations," Hike Messenger founder and CEO Kavin Bharti Mittal said in a statement.

Features

Apart from basic social messaging means like photos, videos and audio files, Hike allows users to "nudge", a feature used to ping the receiver. In addition to that, the application supports chat themes, graphical stickers, PDF files and Office Files. It also allows users to hide individual and group chats providing extended privacy. The messenger now provides free voice-calling over 2G, 3G and Wi-Fi across the globe in over 200 countries.

In January 2015, hike introduced a voice calling feature for their users.[13]

During the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, Hike partnered with CricBuzz to keep their Android users updated about the world cup scores.[14]

In Sep 2015, hike launched free group calls with up to 100 people in a conference call.[15]

Hike Direct, a feature that allow users to share messages and files without any kind of data charges within a radius of 100 metres through Wi-Fi Direct, was made available on Oct 2015.[16]

Privacy

Hike uses a 128-bit SSL encrypted, firewalled server for the exchange of media and text messages only on wifi. Messages are stored locally in the user's device and the data is not backed-up to Hike's server.[17]

References

  1. ↑ "hike messenger". Play Store. Google. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  2. ↑ "hike messenger". Windows Phone Marketplace. Microsoft. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  3. ↑ "hike messenger". BlackBerry World. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  4. ↑ "hike messenger". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  5. ↑ "hike messenger". Opera Store. Nokia. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Hike Stickers". Download Hike Stickers.
  7. ↑ "Hike Launches Globally". Bharti SoftBank. December 12, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  8. 1 2 "BSB invests $7 million in free messaging app ‘hike’ – after it crosses 5 million users in just 4 months". Bharti SoftBank. April 25, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Hike Messenger buys Zip Phone to offer Internet calls". The Economic Times. January 9, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Hike Messenger launches the ‘Great Indian Sticker Challenge’". The Financial Express. Feonline. 5 March 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  11. ↑ "No need to regulate OTT players, says Kavin Mittal as Hike touches 70 million users". IndianExpress. 8 Oct 2015. Retrieved 10 Oct 2015.
  12. ↑ http://hike.in/blog/1-billion-messages-a-day/
  13. ↑ "Hike Messenger Now Offers Free Voice Calling With 'Hike Calls'".
  14. ↑ "Hike partners with CricBuzz to bring World Cup updates to cricket fans". Times of India. Feb 19, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Hike Messenger for Android allows free group calls with up to 100 people".
  16. ↑ "Hike Adds Feature That Lets Users Send Messages and Files Without Internet". NDTV. 8 Oct 2015. Retrieved 10 Oct 2015.
  17. ↑ "Security". Bharti SoftBank. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
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