 "Jio Chat: The late entrant could leap ahead")
Reliance Jio Chat's greatest disadvantage is also its greatest advantage. The Indian instant messaging (IM) market is dominated by global biggies. Even the Chinese have a comfortable share. Hike, the first Indian IM service, is growing fast but is still a long way from the top league. To gain further reach, companies have started offering more than only texting functions. WhatsApp recently upgraded to calling. The late entrant Jio Chat has launched with both video and voice calling services. Which is what could help it leap ahead.
Jio Chat's interface is similar to WeChat's. There's a big text box, on top of which are the chat, video, call and SMS options.
Unlike WhatsApp, contacts in Jio Chat are imported from your phone automatically. Those who don't have Jio Chat carry a green "Invite" box beside their name.
The video calling interface is like in Skype. But image and voice quality on each side of the call will depend on the network quality on that side. During a video call, though my friend in Jamshedpur could see and hear me clearly, his image was too noisy and his voice kept breaking. Jio Chat also has an option for group video calls.
A new feature in Jio Chat is "Channels" that is like Facebook's "Follow" or "Page" feature. If you like the MTV India channel, Jio Chat will keep you posted about its events.
Jio Chat's stickers again reminded me of WeChat, though I found these uninspiring and tacky.
Instant messaging apps: Users in India ( as % of total)
Jio Chat's interface is similar to WeChat's. There's a big text box, on top of which are the chat, video, call and SMS options.
Unlike WhatsApp, contacts in Jio Chat are imported from your phone automatically. Those who don't have Jio Chat carry a green "Invite" box beside their name.
The video calling interface is like in Skype. But image and voice quality on each side of the call will depend on the network quality on that side. During a video call, though my friend in Jamshedpur could see and hear me clearly, his image was too noisy and his voice kept breaking. Jio Chat also has an option for group video calls.
A new feature in Jio Chat is "Channels" that is like Facebook's "Follow" or "Page" feature. If you like the MTV India channel, Jio Chat will keep you posted about its events.
Jio Chat's stickers again reminded me of WeChat, though I found these uninspiring and tacky.
Instant messaging apps: Users in India ( as % of total)
- WhatsApp: 52
- Facebook Messenger: 42
- Skype: 37
- WeChat : 26
- Viber: 18
- Line : 12
- Snapchat: 9
- Kik Messenger: 5
- Tango: 4
- Kakao Talk: 3
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
SAVE 25%
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Subscribe
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
SAVE 25%