Back in early 2007 Netherlands-based Nimbuzz launched a beta for its free application which supported voice, presence, and SMS. TechCrunch UK reports that Tuesday will see it aim squarely at mobile handsets and social networks, launching with Java and Symbian client software which will work across an impressive 500 handsets. This will allow users to make and receive calls across 50 countries, particularly emerging markets where PCs are just too expensive for most people. (An iPhone client is under development). Nimbuzz will offer free mobile VoIP, conference calling, IM and group chat and photo and file sending across multiple IM communities, including Skype, MSN, Google Talk, Yahoo!, AIM, Jabber and ICQ, plus 23 social networks, including apps/widgets for Facebook and Myspace, which are key to its distribution strategy.
Founded by two Dutch mobile veterans Evert Jaap Lugt (formerley KPN) and Martin Smink, Nimbuzz was most recently funded to the tune of $10 million by Mangrove Capital Partners (the original Skype investor) and says it already has 500,000 registered users since the beta launched last year.
Over the past two years about a dozen startups have started to offer IM to VoIP over mobile to take advantage of the increase in flat-rate data plans. They include Mig33 (which also offers IM photo sharing, VoIP and social networking features), Fring and Truphone, among others.
Update: So feedback from users is that the download is way too big, like 1MB, which is way too heavy for a mobile app.
They’ve got top level venture capital backing with Mangrove.
I installed this on my BlackBerry about 6 months ago — the UI was terrible, so unintuitive and took ages to do anything.
I wanted it for the IM side of things. I soon ditched that and installed WebMessenger.
With the focus of IM/VOIP turning to mobile & social n/w,it’s pretty clear that technology may intrude too much into the virtual social lives of people.
It may effect +vely but may effect other way round as well(In longer terms).
Now data plans have to become affordable outside the US. Canada is still horrible for that.
I’ll redesign their terrible UI for…I dunno…how bout 10 Million dollars
http://www.imageco.com
im with TIM g on this one, their design is so fucking ugly
22. This is really awesome. I found your post very interesting
I understand the UI may have since been redesigned for the Blackberry
nice
دردشة
hey nimbuzz is getting popular day by day by its introducing new features like voip via 3g and wifi services, now a days people in my country that is pakistan are using data plan to connect there nimbuzz application, so its goood to hear that nimbuzz rules ova all countries…
Has anybody ever heard of a company called DeFi Mobile? I just ran across the web site looking for Nimbuzz and similar products. If anybody has any experience, please share.
With the focus of IM/VOIP turning to mobile & social n/w,it’s pretty clear that technology may intrude too much into the virtual social lives of people.
It may effect +vely but may effect other way round as well(In longer terms).
http://www.MySargodha.com