Instant messaging app n gage counters WhatsApp in India

Instant messaging app n-gage on Thursday launched its service in India to allow users to share content with competing platforms like WhatsApp and Viber, a move aimed at tapping into the booming mobile Internet user base in India.

"Developing the app has been a two year journey. The platform ensures security of users through the various features and at the same time, availability of the desktop version ensures that those without smartphones can use the platform," n-gage founder and CEO Ajit Patel told PTI. He, however, declined to comment on the number of users the company aims to garner.

According to reports, WhatsApp tops the list of instant messaging (IM) apps in India. India accounts for a huge chunk of its about one billion global userbase.

The reports suggest that mobile chatting apps like Hike, LINE and Viber have grown manifold in the last few years, inline with the burgeoning mobile Internet user base and falling data charges.

Similar to rival messaging apps like WhatsApp and Viber, n-gage's platform allows users to send and receive messages, pictures and videos.

In addition, it allows users to send encrypted messages to others (password protected or timed), delete messages after they are sent as well as disable others from taking screenshots of conversations.

"The messages can be shared on other platforms as well. However, the receiver can respond only if they have n-gage,” he said.

Asked about the monetisation model, Patel said the focus right now is on getting users over revenues. The company is also working on bringing in a version for enterprises for employee communication. “We are in discussion with a few companies for that," he said but declined to provide further details.