Instant messaging( IM) has become a
trend these days especially with the
youth. A trend, pioneered by the
immensely popular WhatsApp IM
application, others like Nimbuzz and
Samsung’s proprietary ChatON messenger
are trying to follow suit as well.
The latest entrant in this genre is Hike, a
communication app that offers both
instant messaging and SMS under one
roof. Developed by Bharti Softbank, a
50-50 partnership between India’s Bharti
Telecom and Japan’s Softbank telecom
provider, the app is the brainchild of Kavin
Bharti Mittal.
A cross platform messenger app, Hike is
similar to WhatsApp but is better in the
sense that it also allows users to
communicate over SMS, which is certainly
a big advantage for those who do not
have access to mobile Internet or data on
the-go and for communicating with your
friends without Hike app from within the
same app.
That said, we played around with the app
a bit on the iOS and Android platforms to
see what is refreshing about it that has
made it the No.1 Top Free app in the
Google Play Store( It is placed at the third
position under Top Free apps in the India
Apple App Store) .