WhatsApp CEO has time and again mentioned how big of a market they have in India, which is pretty apparent regarding the numbers. Almost everyone in the country is using WhatsApp to communicate to their friends, families and colleagues, on daily basis. And, this is not just limited to Android users, but even to Apple users who use WhatsApp more than Apple’s very own iMessage.
Over the course of these socially charged times, more than an ample amount of messaging apps have been introduced in the market and while some get the initial hype, almost all of them have seen the slow death in the past. Even today, WhatsApp does not have a strong and popular rival in the Indian market, but not anymore.
Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali has now launched a more ‘swadeshi’ rival to WhatsApp and it’s called ‘Kimbho’. The tagline of this messaging app is, ‘Ab Bharat Bolega.’
Patanjali’s spokesperson SK Tijarawala tweeted from his handle confirming the launch of the Kimbho messaging app. “Now Bharat will speak. After launching sim cards, Baba Ramdev has launched a new messaging application called Kimbho. Now WhatsApp will be given a competition. Our own #SwadeshiMessagingplatform. Download it directly from Google Play store,” he tweeted.
अब भारत बोलेगा…!
पूज्य @yogrishiramdev @Ach_Balkrishna के मार्गदर्शन में उनके शिष्य नवदीक्षित साधुओं और राष्ट्रनिष्ठ विशेषज्ञों ने #स्वदेशी तकनीक से इजाद कर बनाया यह #KIMBHO एप#भारत #स्वाभिमान
Patanjali's new app to challenge WhatsApp @bst_official https://t.co/hxBCbwdrnV— Tijarawala SK (@tijarawala) May 30, 2018
Yoga guru Ramdev launched a new messaging application called Kimbho under his flagship company Patanjali today. Patanjali's spokesperson, SK Tijarawala claimed that the app will give WhatsApp a tough competetion
Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/KyxhQC21dG pic.twitter.com/N8YzJgb7bZ
— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) May 30, 2018
The launch of this Kimbho app comes just days after the Patanjali and BSNL coalition news. This particular news of coalition between the two resulted in some major news rooting when people started talking about Patanjali sim cards and how the Ayurveda brand is now planning to the telecom sector.
But then Patanjali came forward and clarified that this sim and telecom operation will only be available for the employees of BSNL and no other. However, the Kimbho messaging app is available to the public and can be downloaded from both Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store. On Play Store, the developer is listed as Patanjali Ayurved, but on iOS the developer is Appdios.Inc. However, both apps have the same features and UI and design.
Kimbho has very similar features to that of WhatsApp, and through this, the users can send messages individually to their friend or can even create a group. The app also allows users to broadcast messages to multiple users simultaneously. One can follow his or her favourite celebrities and doodle as well, so this is similar to Instagram or Snapchat. It also appears to support Video calling. Other features include voice calls in addition to sharing multimedia, stickers and more.
All in all, Patanjali has tried to make a one-stop destination for all the current social media apps in the market. Here are few reactions to the news and some have even started using the app.
Downloaded Baba Ramdev’s app. The only other idiot there was @pranavsapra . Here’s our Kimbho KeDarshan. pic.twitter.com/KyaSBDYtFF
— Akshar (@AksharPathak) May 31, 2018
https://twitter.com/JagratiShukla29/status/1002015969454182400
Ramdev baba ne whatsapp ke competition mein Kimbho app nikali hai. All is good but ab wo hazaro fake messages whatsapp ki bajay kimbho pe aayenge kya?
— APPURV GUPTA (@appurv_gupta) May 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/pcee19/status/1001865719015854081
With #KIMBHO one thing is clear that Ramdev is in full mood to come up with Indian version of Tinder called #SAMBHOG
— Ritik (@_alreadytook) May 30, 2018
I hope #KIMBHO will not ask me link my adhar card 🤔
— Bidita Bag 🇮🇳 (@biditabag) May 30, 2018
The irony here, Baba Ramdev's app #Kimbho features callers from outside India, showing kids playing football with location shared of Fremont, CA. Also, the mobile carrier is AT&T 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/9STANgERfe
— Akshay (@TheWrenchMate) May 30, 2018
So the "Swadeshi" messaging app of #Patanjali, the #Kimbho, puts "AT&T" as the carrier name… Seriously?! pic.twitter.com/jWgcfnZpLM
— Ganesh Ramkumar (@grktheXplorer) May 30, 2018
I am in love with the app icon.. hats off to the designer. Very creative. 😂 #Kimbho
— Mehak sharma (@realmehaksharma) May 30, 2018
While everyone has their own views about it, there’s a man who has already found faults in the app and how it lacks heavily in terms of security. French cybersecurity expert Elliot Alderson posted a short video on Twitter claiming how he could access users’ messages without much trouble. He asked people to not install the app.
Hi @KimbhoApp before trying to compete #WhatsApp, you can try to secure your app. It's possible to choose a security code between 0001 and 9999 and send it to the number of your choice #kimbhoApp pic.twitter.com/YQqK8lfIeI
— Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) May 30, 2018
This @KimbhoApp is a joke, next time before making press statements, hire competent developers… If it is not clear, for the moment don't install this app. #Kimbho #KimbhoApp pic.twitter.com/wLWzO6lhSR
— Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) May 30, 2018
Ok, I will stop here. The #Kimbho #android #app is a security disaster. I can access the messages of all the users…🤦♂️
— Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) May 30, 2018
Then, upon further research, Alderson returned and claimed how the user interface of Kimbho was a copy of another application, in each and every way.
The @KimbhoApp is a copy paste of another #application. The description and the screenshots in the app stores are the same. Moreover, the #Kimbho app is making request to bolomessenger[.]com pic.twitter.com/gOKOhash5X
— Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) May 31, 2018
It is build on an app called "BOLO". Kimbho team is so dumb that they didnt even changed the OTP SMS format!! Even the description n pics used are same as Bolo app! 😂 https://t.co/QKGjYC1y2J pic.twitter.com/40yRxZKbLX
— Abhisshek Singh (@ThakurrSaab) May 31, 2018
If all that has been alleged by Elliot Anderson is true, then the security check of the app should be promptly addressed, before more and more people become a victim of some massive security breach.
What are your views on the app and the allegation it has been facing, in just a single day of its launch?
Jyotsna Amla