hike messenger logs in 30 bn message exchanges a month

With a user base of over 70 million in the country, mobile messaging app hike messenger announced on Wednesday that in a span of three months, hike users are exchanging over one billion messages per day -- or 30 billion messages per month.

This number has grown by 50 percent since the previous announcement of 20 billion messages exchanged in August this year, the company said in a statement.

This upsurge in messaging volume has been observed after the launch of its latest version -- hike 4.0.

"We are now doing over a billion messages per day. That is no small feat. We got there quicker than we expected. It is incredible how well hike 4.0 is doing. The year still is not over and there is a lot still more to come. Stay tuned," said Kavin Bharti Mittal, founder and CEO, hike messenger.

The latest version is packed with some brand new features such as automatic sticker suggestions and hike direct which allows users to chat and share files without internet.

It has 500-member group-chat with multi-admins, free group calling with up to 100 people, news in English and Hindi, coupons from over 100 brands and special photo filters and doodles.

Launched in December 2012, the company crossed 70 million users in October this year, making it by far the second largest messaging app of the country.

On an average, a user spends over 140 minutes per week on hike messenger.

The popular mobile messaging app boasts of a fairly young user base with over 90 percent of its users being under age 25.

The chat application has localised features, which are developed keeping in mind the infrastructural and cultural requirements of the users.

The upgraded version of hike is available free for android consumers on Google Play store and for iOS app store.