Hike users to chat, share files sans internet

NEW DELHI: Internet firm hike messenger has launched hike direct, which will allow users to chat, exchange stickers, transfer photos and files without the Internet and without incurring data charges.

hike direct allows mobile phones to connect with one another directly within a 100 meter radius completely by passing the telecom networks. Users can then chat and share files directly up to a speed of 40Mbps with very low latency.

Kavin Mittal, Founder and CEO, hike messenger, said: "Today is the day we completely redefine messaging. hike direct has been built on breakthrough technology that adds a whole new dimension to messaging enabling hikers to chat and share files with their friends without the internet and without incurring any data charges. One can get speeds up to 40 Mbit/sec when chatting and sharing files through hike direct. Data or no data, hike will always work. It’s incredibly powerful.”

hike direct is built from the ground up with a new generation of network solutions and uses Wi-Fi Direct technology systems that help establish peer to peer network connection between two phones. Users can get this feature by upgrading to the latest version of hike, version 4.0.6 and above, which is available free on the Google Play Store starting today. hike direct on iOS, Windows to follow next year.

The company has crossed 70 million users last month with 20 billion messages being exchanged per month making it by far the 2nd largest messaging app in the country. An average user on hike spends over 140 minutes per week on the application.

The all new hike has recently been upgraded to 4.0 version with features such as news, hindi news bytes, localized stickers in 30 languages, automatic sticker suggestions, Group calling, Group chat up to 500 members, 100 MB file sharing etc.