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

2 days ago

June 10, 2021

Joanna

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

Matchmaking App Hawaya Lets Users Connect Based On Lifestyle Choices

Hawaya currently operates in 12 new countries, including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, France, Germany, UK, Malaysia, Indonesia, the United States, and Canada.

Published

1 day ago

June 11, 2021

Joanna

egyptian matchmaking app hawaya lets users connect based on lifestyle choices

Finding love is not easy, especially for singles in the Middle East, where conservative cultural norms don’t approve of any but the most traditional forms of matchmaking, which don’t seem all that appealing to many members of younger generations. But it’s not like young men and women in the Middle East are without modern options when it comes to finding the partner of their dreams. Hawaya, a Cairo-born matchmaking app, has recently celebrated 4 million users, and it’s now rolling out a feature that has the potential to expand its userbase even further: the ability to connect based on lifestyle choices with people from other regions.

Hawaya currently operates in 12 new countries, including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, France, Germany, UK, Malaysia, Indonesia, the United States of America, and Canada. So far, it has resulted in 18,000 commitments, with 5,000 in Egypt alone.

“We’re seeing singles all over the region, women in particular, trusting in Hawaya to find their life partner more than ever before, which displays greater social acceptance for mobile matchmaking as an empowering tool for women to find their ideal life partner,” said Shaymaa Ali, Hawaya’s co-founder and Marketing Manager in the MENA region.

The new “Lifestyle Preferences” feature allows users to find their other half based on shared interests, likes, and dislikes. Users can now specify the geographic area they would like to explore, instead of always receiving matches that are located as close to them as possible.

Also Read: Tinder Will Soon Let You Background Check Your Matches

“Through innovation, tech, and cultural respect, Hawaya prides itself to be a progressive app that aims to destigmatize the taboo of online matchmaking, and empowering women to take their time and spark a real connection with the love of their lives,” added Sameh Saleh, Hawaya’s founder and CEO.

Since the 2017 launch of Hawaya, social acceptance of online matchmaking in the MENA region has seen a measurable improvement, but there’s still a long way to go before all users of matchmaking apps like Hawaya won’t feel the need to hide their identities.