It took years for Facebook to reach one million members. Imagine the surprise when a tiny app suddenly gets a million downloads a mere fifteen days after its official launch.
The application is Kik Messenger, which promises "real-time texting for all" for the iPod, iPhone, and BlackBerry. Upon download it checks contacts and makes friend suggestions based on who knows who on the Kik network. After adding a Kik contact, you can freely chat with him, and Kik will let you know if the contact is typing or if messages were read. It works as an instant messenger, but for the mobile phone.
“Facebook is a social network where desktop is at the center and mobile is just an extension of it,” Ted Livingston, Kik’s Chief Executive told Mashable. “Really what we’re trying to do is build a mobile social network where mobile is at the center and desktop is an extension of it.”
There are plans to expand Kik’s mobile sync-ing to include media libraries, allowing users on its network to swap images and music. But first things first: server space. With the download boom, Kik’s been racing to keep up with its subscribers. BlackBerry is already quaking from its reception, and has pulled the application from its app world webpage.
Is this the next social media frontier? Let’s keep our eye on the Kik.
