JOIN USHomegrown chat application Hike messenger said on Wednesday that it will offer free voice calls to its users over 2G, 3G and Wi-Fi services across the globe in over 200 countries.
The introduction of voice calls has come within a month of Hike making it’s first acquisition — a free calling app — Zip Phone. The free voice calling feature has been launched in beta on Android, which contributes to over 90 per cent of its user base whereas the iOS and Windows versions are slated to release by the end of this quarter, the company said in a statement.
The free voice calling feature by hike comes at a time when mobile operators are demanding that over-the-top (OTT) players like Hike, WhatsApp, Line, Skype among others should be brought under regulation. OTT players ride VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol to let their users make free calls through the Internet.
Sectoral regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has already begun the pre-consultation process regarding OTT players. Bharti Airtel, India’s largest mobile services operator, has dropped its plan to charge extra for voice calls made over the Internet using third-party applications following an outcry on social media.
Incidentally, Hike is a joint venture between Bharti Enterprises and SoftBank Corporation.