Indian Messaging App Hike unveils New OS ‘Total’
Hike, today announced the launch of a new product called ‘Total, built by hike’. ‘Total’ is a refined version of Android targeted at the next billion people. ‘Total’ lets users access essential services such as Messaging, News, Recharge and more even without an active data connection and paves the way for them to get on Data by providing packs at as low as Re.1/-.
‘Total, built by hike’, has 4 key elements to it that combined together make the end to end experience extremely seamless:
- Single Login: A Single Login via the Phone Number for all of Total services such as Messaging, News, Horoscope, Recharge, Wallet, Cricket Scores and Rail information.
- Light Services < 100 kb to 1 MB: Services on ‘Total, built by hike’ take between < 100 kb to 1 MB ensuring a lightweight footprint on the device.
- Works without Data: All of the services built on Total can be accessed even without Data via proprietary technology. Developed in-house, the proprietary technology, based on the USSD protocol does the heavy lifting of encrypting, compressing and transmitting data. It has effectively supercharged USSD to help bring an uninterrupted experience to the users even an active data connection.
- Sachet Data Packs: Users will be able to purchase Sachet Data Packs starting as low as Re. 1 from inside the Total experience itself with the goal of lowering the cost of access and introducing people to data.
Hike has worked extremely closely with telecom partners to enable the USSD Technology & Data Upsell on Total. Airtel, Aircel and BSNL are the telecom partners which cover over 42% of the telecom market.
On the device side, Intex and Karbonn are the first Smartphone partners. ‘Total, built by hike’ will be available on 4 models across Intex & Karbonn. The Intex devices with Total are Aqua Lions N1, Aqua Lions T1, Aqua Lions T1-Lite and the Karbonn device is A40 Indian.
The devices are scheduled to hit the shelves starting 1st March 2018.
Source: Hike Press Release
