Mobile Meets Meebo in Chikka 2.0

Chikka 2.0 Web Messenger

Chikka has reinvented its Messenger application and it looks like the mobile applications giant is riding the 2.0 wave. The Chikka application meshes the offerings of competing one-stop instant messaging websites Wablet, Meebo, and e-Buddy with its mobile prowess. Let’s dive into the Chikka 2.0 experience and get an insider’s view from the Chikka Business Development Team.

Multiple IM login interface

The multiple IM logins on top of the hompage are enticing… until you realize that you actually have to use a Chikka ID to use the app. So for those who don’t have Chikka accounts, you have to either sign up for a free PC account (not connected to your mobile) or send a P2.50 (usual rate) registration message. Relatively painless. Some users would rather not have to sign up for a Chikka account though, partly for fear of being spammed. When you use other IM apps like Meebo, you can just go ahead and login to your Yahoo! or GTalk.

I consulted some designers and programmers and got some points for improvement. The icons on the homepage were clean and layout was okay to use, but the orange was less than easy on the eyes. I understand that’s part of the branding, but hey, you can’t rationalize designers’ comments.

If Chikka is targeting Filipino Meebo users, it has to give something more to convert. Perhaps something like IMified or Sandy the Personal Assistant that integrates the web with productivity or reminders with optional and minimal charges, if any.

What’s good is you no longer have to download extra software or have an extra pop-up to use Chikka. With their web-based interface, Mac people can easily send Chikka IMs.

Competition with IM applications

Right now, I don’t actually use Chikka yet for the multiple IM login though. Adium is convenient for that. Perhaps people in the office behind their cubicles and firewalls can maximize this feature that makes Chikka 2.0, well, 2.0.

I asked the Chikka Business Development Team, headed by Mr. Gio Bacareza how they view these other online IM applications. Is their approach a blue ocean strategy in-the-making?

“Our ultimate targets are all web users and mobile subscribers. While we have successfully grown a community of Filipino users here and abroad, adding in the other IM networks will further expand our beachhead as we aim to extend our reach to the mainstream users. By focusing on the convergence of the PC and mobile, as against others who are either purely PC-based or mobile-based businesses, we are in a way changing the landscape. So in that sense, it could be a blue ocean strategy. We just didn’t label it as such. It just made sense for us to use our expertise in the mobile and integrate that with the real estate and more interactive features of the PC.”

“The presence of these major players (e.g. Meebo, e-Buddy, Wablet) in the space we’re in validates our view that it’s a good business to be in. The only thing that differentiates us from these guys is that they are purly web-based services primarily. This limits their revenue models to essentially advertising. Chikka is primarily in the PC-to-mobile business which gives us not only differentiation but also gives us wider range of choices for revenue sources.”

How to Make Money from your Web App

When asked how Chikka intends to make money from the new Chikka app, Gio shares, “… being on the point of convergence of the net and mobile, we can apply revenue models that are accepted by the market. For the web, we have ad based and subscription revenues. For mobile, we have the subscription and per message fees.”

As always with the Chikka app, the caveat is the P2.50 fee charged to the person who replies to your text sent from Chikka. I feel so cheated when I hit send and afterwards realize that it was sent to a +2776391x-xxx-xxxx. I’m not alone on this sentiment. There has to be another revenue model that feels welcome to all users. Perhaps a minimal monthly subscription could be less intrusive and entirely optional, much like Airborne Access’ P199/mo promoted through an initial P99/mo to Smart or PLDT subscribers.

The Making of Chikka 2.0

Chikka 2.0 began as an AJAX experiment in the R&D labs of Chikka as early as 2 years ago. They developed their software, moving their desktop client (the old Chikka) to the web. The alpha was launched last December, the beta in March; target launch is late April. “It will be in continuous beta, meaning we will be continuously adding new services and features and making continuous improvements.”

Try for yourself the all-new Chikka.

Disclosure: JP Dela Torre, Co-Developer of Pinoy Web Startup, used to be associated with Bidshot Wireless, a subsidiary of Chikka Asia. He did minimal R&D on the Chikka 2.0 application.