News

Turkish Messaging App BiP Introduces Group & Chat Import

BiP Messenger currently operates in more than 192 countries and has over 80 million users.

Published

4 years ago

June 10, 2021

Joanna Melki

turkish messaging app bip introduces group and chat import

BiP

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a massive spike in demand for secure instant messaging software capable of connecting teams and families separated by social distancing measures. Turkish messaging app BiP, which is developed by mobile phone operator Turkcell, experienced a huge influx of new users following an update to Facebook-owned WhatsApp’s privacy policy.

In January, as many as 10 million new users downloaded BiP during a single week, making it one the most downloaded apps on Google PlayStore and Apple AppStore.

To help maintain the remarkable pace of growth, BiP is now making it easier for its users to migrate their chat history from other apps. Users coming from competing instant messaging apps can now automatically and at once move their existing individual chats or group chats, including any shared videos and photographs.

BiP currently operates in 192 countries and has around 80 million users. Besides its home country, Turkey, it focuses heavily on the Indian market.

“India is a strategic market for us. 97% of mobile smartphone phone users use mobile apps for daily communications. The major youth population and their digital savviness offer profound potential. First quarter of 2021 has been very dynamic for us, we’ve reached more than 2 million downloads with very high rates of like scores in various platforms,” said Burak Akinci, BiP’s CEO. “We’ll gratefully continue to invest in innovative solutions and security to make Indian consumers’ everyday lives easier.”

Also Read: Istanbul Fights Disease-Carrying Mosquitoes Using A Smartphone App

BiP stands out from many other instant messaging apps with its security- and privacy-oriented approach. For example, the Secret Chat feature lets users send messages that disappear from the chat screen within a set time period. The app also supports HD group video calls that can include up to 10 people. Users can choose to have their messages automatically translated into 106 different languages, including Gujarati, Kannada, Punjabi, and Telugu.

For these and other features, BiP received the ‘Most Innovative Mobile App’ award at 2020 Global Mobile Awards.

News

Saudi EV Adoption Accelerates With BYD Expansion & Tesla Launch

Saudi Arabia’s EV market is gaining momentum as BYD plans major showroom growth and Tesla establishes a foothold in Riyadh.

Published

2 days ago

July 16, 2025

Nour Nasir

saudi ev adoption accelerates with byd expansion and tesla launch

Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to become a regional hub for electric mobility are drawing greater investment from global automakers. As part of Vision 2030, the Kingdom is targeting 30% electric vehicle (EV) adoption in the capital, Riyadh, by the end of the decade — an objective that’s now shaping the strategic interests of international EV brands.

Chinese manufacturer BYD is planning a substantial thrust into the Saudi market, building on its current footprint of three showrooms. According to Jerome Saigot, BYD’s managing director in the Kingdom, the company aims to open 10 showrooms by the end of 2026.

“Saudi Arabia is a complex market. You need to go fast. You need to think big,” Saigot recently told reporters. “We are not here to stay at 5,000 or 10,000 cars a year”.

The announcement follows Tesla’s entry into the Saudi EV space, with the US automaker opening its first showroom in Riyadh in April. Tesla joins early players like BYD and Geely in what remains a nascent but strategically important segment for the Kingdom.

The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has also ramped up its electric mobility agenda. Its efforts include major investments in Lucid Motors, the creation of local EV brand Ceer, and support for the rollout of national charging infrastructure.

Also Read: Twitch Launches Arabic Right-To-Left Interface For Web & Mobile

However, electric vehicles still only account for just over 1% of total car sales in Saudi Arabia, according to data from PwC cited by Bloomberg. Key challenges include high upfront costs, limited public charging access, and the added complexity of operating in extreme heat conditions.

In spite of those hurdles, Saigot views Tesla’s entry as a net positive. “The more Tesla communicates on marketing, the better it is for us,” he said. Saigot joined BYD in April, having previously held executive roles at Nissan and Great Wall Motor.

With multiple brands scaling up activity in parallel — and government-backed infrastructure investment underway — Saudi Arabia’s EV sector appears set for rapid acceleration over the next few years.