16 reviews

Kik Messenger

Released October, 2010

The Pros:Chat for friends for free as an alternative to txting that costs money. Automaticaly builds out your contact list as people sign up. Free app.

The Cons:Can only chat with other Kik members, unlike txting that can be sent to any mobile #. Can NOT delete account. Overwhelmed servers lead to unreliable service in the meantime.

Kik Messenger is a free, downloadable chat app for BlackBerry, iPhone, and Android smartphones. Modelled after BBM (BlackBerry Messenger), the app allows users to chat for free over their WiFi or data plan.

User Reviews (21)

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ProScore

Pros

7

Chat for friends for free as an alternative to txting that costs money
4

Automaticaly builds out your contact list as people sign up
3

Free app
3

Very fast. Faster than native iPhone txting
3

No ads (yet)
2

Available for Android, iOs, and BlackBerry
2

Carrier independent
2

Ultimately, will force mobile phone manufacturers and mobile carriers to change their policies for the better (free, cross-platform messaging)
2

"Message Sent", "Message Read", and "User Typing" status messages. The killer app of BBM brought to everyone.
1

Keeps track of online status of friends
1

Platform independent (iPhone, BB, Android users unite)
1

Now available for Blackberry devices
1

Group chat

Cons

7

Can only chat with other Kik members, unlike txting that can be sent to any mobile #
4

Can NOT delete account.
3

Overwhelmed servers lead to unreliable service in the meantime
3

Lacking many features found in competitors since it's so new
3

Can't modify user name.
2

Can't run on two devices simultaneously. It will automatically log you out of one of them.
1

no group chat
1

Takes up lots of data
0

Pulled from BlackBerry App World (Nov. 15 2010)
0

Can burn your battery quicker than BBM on a BlackBerry device
0

Not as reliable as SMS as it requires a data connection

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Comments (11)

What's on your mind? See more ProductWiki Talk

Erik: #kik_messenger Kik has been spreading like wildfire over the last couple of days. It's a pretty interesting study in viral sharing. They had 400K new subscribers yesterday.

I think the large number of Xmas iPhone/iPad/Android activations has lit up a new section of the social graph.

I know personally, I put Kik on three devices for my family.

http://www.kik.com/blog/2012/01/kik-messenger-a-virus-no-way/ Jan 4, 12

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Erik: #kik_messenger Kik is finally available for BB devices. It's not in AppWorld, but you can get it from Kik's website directly.

http://www.kik.com/blog/2011/10/the-wait-is-over/ Oct 13, 11

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Erik: #kik_messenger I've been using Kik for a couple of months and I have to say it's maintained it's home-screen-worthy status along with SMS, GTalk, GMail, Web browser, and phone. I think that alone says a lot of the potential of these cross-platform messaging apps. Mar 21, 11

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Erik: #pingchat They recently updated this app to give the user the choice to opt out of the annoying ads below the text box. This is a great move for the user, however, from a business perspective who wouldn't disable them?

They've also added the infamous S,D,R indicators that got #kik_messenger into hot water with RIM. Mar 21, 11

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Erik: #whatsapp This app is better than #kik_messenger on paper, but yet I haven't found the need to switch completely. I think Kik needs to take note of this apps functionality and robustness and at least match it to stay ahead in the game. I'm surprised WhatsApp hasn't received as much buzz. Jan 7, 11

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shadowtech: I don't know, I've seen WhatsApp prominently featured in several sections of the iTunes store. I was using it before I even heard of kik. Anyway, it's pretty good, but I still text more than anything else. There are still people out there without data, apparently. Jan 8, 11

Erik: I'm confused. It seems that the #kik_messenger hype is over? http://search.twitter.com/search?q=kik

At least according to the current twitter action. Did RIM already win? Fickle consumers...Easy-come, easy-go. Dec 7, 10

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Lefty: really RIM? a bit of an overkill, no? http://www.bgr.com/2010/12/01/rim-files-suit-against-kik-claims-patent-infringement/ Dec 1, 10

comments (12) like 2 people like this

Erik: WOW. I guess that's one way to try and stop them. Dec 1, 10
Omar: Wow.... this is crazy. This is just disgusting by RIM, absolutely disgusting.

Oracle suing Sun.
Microsoft suing Apple.

Whatever, these are all big companies suing each other. Kik is just a friggin startup. This may very well kill Kik. I just can't believe it. Dec 1, 10
Erik: I see the (evil) genius in this strategy. Don't buy Kik out and shut them down, because someone else (PingChat!, WhatsApp) will just take their spot. If you sue them, you send a message to everyone else. (A BBM message?)

Having said that, I still don't think this will kill Kik. I'm still thinking that it just gets them more attention. Dec 1, 10
Omar: It's ironic because RIM was the subject of a pretty big patent trolling lawsuit that they absolutely hated. And now the trolled has become the troll. How far will you go RIM? Dec 1, 10
Anonymous: Its incredible. I couldn't believe it when I read it. I agree with Erik though, that this will only give KIK more attention, and hopefully the 'David and Goliath' angle is played up and RIM feels jus as ashamed as they deserve to be. Dec 1, 10
Erik: I don't the world realizes how close Kik is to RIM geographically in Waterloo, ON. Kik can basically look our their window at the monolith that is RIM. It's a sad local story, too. Waterloo is working hard to nourish a tech startup scene, and, ironically?, the tech company that put Waterloo on the map is trying to kill it.

I think this is a PR nightmare for RIM, and a poor choice of action. Dec 1, 10
Lefty: Engadget has a new update on this issue outlining some of the actual claims in the suit.......appears this is less of a patent issue and more of an NDA issue......i'm still strongly against RIM's decision to file this suit but if these claims are true then i do have to say i'm less outraged than i was when i thought it was strictly for patent related issues. http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/01/rim-sues-kik-in-canada-for-patent-infringement/ Dec 2, 10
Lefty: here's a better link actually that outlines pretty much all the claims RIM has included in their suit against Kik. http://blog.davidlam.ca/2010/12/rim-v-kik-part-2.html Dec 2, 10
Erik: I agree with you, Lefty. In light of the facts, I feel my previous comment was glib. There seems to be some merit to their claims. Ethically, I don't side with RIM, but legally speaking I can no longer say the same thing. Honestly, the perception changes when you find out that Ted was a former employee working on BBM. Dec 2, 10
Anonymous: I don't want to be the pro-RIM person here, but if this situation were reversed (and Kik was suing RIM), I'm guessing we would all be ok with that. Is everybody just having a problem with this because Kik is a startup? I don't know, seems like a double standard to me. I'm not pro either company to tell the truth, if RIM's suit is valid then so be it. It's definitely not a black-and-white case. The law exists to protect both the small and BIG companies... Dec 7, 10

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Amanie: ^^ That was me :) Dec 7, 10
Erik: I agree with you. There is definitely a double standard. I don't think legally, that IP cases should take into consideration the relative sizes of companies. RIM legitimately "invented" BBM, and Kik cloned then improved it. I see those as the only pertinent facts.

I have mixed feelings about IP cases. On one hand, it protects the creators of ideas, but on the other it serves to slow down improvements on those existing ideas. Dec 7, 10

Erik: Congrats #kik_messenger for being nominated for Mashable entrepreneur of the year: http://mashable.com/2010/11/27/promising-new-companies/ Nov 27, 10

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Omar: Huge congrats to kik team. it's an awesome story. Nov 27, 10

Erik: I can't believe what's going on with RIM / Kik.

http://gigaom.com/2010/11/23/rim-pulls-the-plug-on-messaging-upstart-kik/

Obviously, the reason they dropped it, is because of competition to BBM, not the lame privacy reason. Do you think it's a smart corporate decision to try and kill Kik? Is that even possible given the Android, iPhone, and WP7 competition? Nov 24, 10

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Amanie: Well, until RIM customers start complaining, I don't think Kik will stand a chance in fighting this. RIM is probably just hoping things shut down quietly and that their customers won't care and/or notice. Nov 24, 10
Omar: I seriously can't believe that RIM is doing this. I can understand if they could hide behind some app store approval policy like Apple has done in various cases, but this is so blatantly anti-competitive. This is particularly scathing since RIM and Kik are essentially neighbours in Waterloo! That RIM would try to destroy a local startup like this is disgustingly shameful.

Of course as a private company RIM does have the right to enforce these policies, so the question remains - what will be the net result?

From Kik's perspective I think this will be a wash. The big negative is right now they don't have access to the RIM audience which is quite large. However, they are getting a lot of attention and press out of this so for sure they're going to see more downloads on the other platforms.

From RIM's perspective I think this is a desperate move from an increasingly irrelevant company. If they feel Kik threatens their BBM service then how about they improve the service itself. So lame RIM. So lame! Nov 24, 10
Lefty: As crappy as this decision is for Kik users and Kik itself I do have to say that I understand where RIM is coming from. BBM is hands down the lifeblood of BlackBerrys in the consumer space (corporate world has their security and email functionality) combine that with the growing issue RIM is having with BlackBerry retention rates and it's no wonder that RIM has decided not to allow a cross platform messaging service to infiltrate their devices (at least not right now because I do believe that the demand for a cross platform messaging service will eventually become too great for any mobile OS manufacturer to squash). But in the meantime RIM has and should do whatever it can to stop people from jumping ship. Nov 24, 10

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Erik: @Lefty But what about the strategy of embracing technologies like Kik for retention purposes? It seems like these head-in-the-sand techniques are what got RIM into this mess in the first place. RIM is looking more and more like a dinosaur to me every day.

@Omar It doesn't only affect BB users. If an iPhone Kik user has 1/3 of their friends on the BB platform. Their experience is crippled as well, since they won't be able to use Kik together. Nov 24, 10
Omar: You know what, now that I think about it and with @lefty's comment I think this is already going to be a net negative for RIM. I think that Kik has already or will soon cross the boundary that will make it mainstream. I'd say 10 million users is mainstream enough, and Kik will probably get there before the end of the year, especially with the extra attention from being banned and all of that.

Now, iOS and Android are totally outpacing Blackberry sales. And you'll have pockets of friends that are going to be on Kik so they can stay connected. Well, you're going to have one or two people in a pocket that have Blackberry and won't be able to get in on the messaging fun. This use case is probably the most compelling reason a person has to jump ship.

Fine, you have browser comparisons, feature comparisons, etc etc. People can explain those away. But if somebody feels like they're missing out of social communications - there's not a more powerful force in the world. That person missing out WILL switch from Blackberry guaranteed. It's for this reason that RIM should bring Kik back ASAP. Nov 24, 10

Erik: OMG. I just played with @scottp 's #samsung_captivate_sgh_i897 and I fell in love. I need to get one ASAP. To me, Android combines what I like about BB and iPhone in one product. My #apple_iphone_3g feels extremely antiquated next to this device.

It's definitely a more "technical" product than the iPhone, but that suits me just fine. The Samsung skin is really good, and what sold it on me was the notification system and how it integrated with txting and GTalk specifically. No need for #kik_messenger anymore for me. Nov 18, 10

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dom: sweet! how's it working? I wish Google would make a new innovative media player app that would sync with Androids (and others), kind of like the Picasa app that does a whole lot more than just syncing with Picasa Web Apps. There are plenty of good syncing solutions for Android, but an official Google app for the desktop would give iPhone users even one more reason to switch. iPhone users have no understanding of syncing according to my experience in conversations.... Dec 3, 10
Erik: Haven't had the chance to give it a fair shake, yet. Hopefully, I can find some time this weekend. I don't have a deep understanding/appreciation of syncing yet. I like the idea of my home media library always available on my Android phone wherever I go either over WiFi or from the physical media. What excites you? The WiFi streaming or the physical syncing? Is it music or video? Or something else? Dec 3, 10

Erik: Wow. Things are heating up. RIM must be scared of #kik_messenger 's disruption to their Blackberry market:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/15/rim-pulls-kik-messenger-from-app-world-cites-number-of-issues/

Kik really undermines their BBM service, which looks like their marketing as a key differentiator. If people turn to Kik in droves (a cross platform messenger), they won't need BBM. If they don't need BBM, they don't need a Blackberry at all. Do the math.

Ok, so it's damage control time for RIM corp. If they were to buy Kik, they would have to drop their cross-platform functionality, but that wouldn't work. #PingChat! (or someone else) would scoop up the market share instead. Bottom-line is that BB, iPhone, Android, MS and their carriers need to accept this new, free, cross-platform, carrier-independent form of mobile instant messaging in some way. Or die Nov 16, 10

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Yale: They should just make an offer (for both, maybe) and shut the idea down - before somebody bigger scoops it up and really puts the gas on. Nobody that big is really interested in the idea, although they should be - mostly because their hardware / software is otherwise superior and they want in on the BBM pie. I could see Google doing it for shits, the lols and/or the good of mankind. This will be interesting... If they're bought out it would probably take a long time for it to be developed from scratch, and what is the chance of another startup really gaining such traction like Kik did? Nov 16, 10
Erik: Excellent points, Yale. The more I think about it, the more I think GOOG should buy them. They have Android and GTalk and they're DNA is open and free. Roll Kik into GTalk and call it a day! Nov 16, 10