Thread: Kik - Where Oh Where...Have You Gone?

Kik is a very popular, unique, cross-platform instant messaging service for BlackBerry, Android and iPhone users. Kiks ideology is to create a global IM system where everyone worldwide can communicate without any platform barriers except, perhaps, language? On October 19, 2010, Kik relaunched their app to include these other platforms and suddenly their growth was staggering. Within 2 weeks of their relaunch, they had 1 million users and to date they are up to 2.5 million users and still growing.

But, on November 19, just one month from their popular relaunch, RIM removes Kik from App World. To the dismay of the nearly 1 million Kik BlackBerry users and Kik team, RIM also shut down their "push" service to the app. Some thought that perhaps RIM did not like a cross platform IM app, like Kik, to compete with BlackBerry Messenger especially since it is quite similar in design and functionality. Ted, from Kik, recently wrote a blog stating his dismay and hopes that RIM will change their decision.While other platforms such as Android and iPhone remain unaffected, it certainly puts a stop to any further growth from the BlackBerry community. Did RIM intentionally stomp on Kik to snuff out any competition?

On the other hand, with Kiks unexpected growth, came a major privacy concern that the Kik team seemed to have overlooked. Evidentially it would automatically send alerts to any other contact in the user's address book who also had Kik that they were online. Some people were upset over this because they may not want everyone on their contact list to know they had the app, especially business contacts. The developers were made aware of the issue and quickly updated their app to address that concern. What is interesting is what Ted says in his blog, "And we have responded fully to any concerns they have raised. We know battery life and privacy could not be concerns, because we have completed an update that sips battery power and provides additional privacy controls, and have offered it to RIM."

While the developers of Kik have gone out of their way to address these issues, RIM still has not done anything as of yet to reinstate the popular software download for BlackBerry platforms. Are you, or were you, a Kik IM user? How does the app run now that "push" is no longer available? What do you think is the real issue behind RIMs decision to pull the app from BlackBerry App World?

I think RIMs move sucks big time, and im glad i jumped ship to android xD

Not that i use kik THAT much (in fact, i only use kik, pingchat and whatsapp to talk to the friend who left BB with me, and my girlfriend, who has the iphone 2G i dumped when i got my frist BB xD )

not exactly sure how RIM has stopped the app. what is the "push" service for Kik? and can't the app be installed from the Kik website?

I do understand they've removed it from appworld but is that the only way to get it? Sry but I don't get the big deal here.

Its the whole privacy issue. RIM stance on that is well known and they won't deviate from that. Kik was in violation of that once it went through your phone book.

RIM's advantage is the secure bb. With kik that security is lost. I personally think this business decision, and that's what it was, was a good one on behalf of RIM
Posted via mobile device

But if Kik fixed the issue, don't you think RIM should put the app back in App World and renistate push?

Originally Posted by munchkinsdad

But if Kik fixed the issue, don't you think RIM should put the app back in App World and renistate push?

Yes an no. If it were iron clad then yes, RIM should welcome it back. But heres the no. The vulnarability has already been shown. I really don't think kik can fix it satisfactorly enough to prevent it from being exploited in the future.

Would you trust it on your BB knowing that back door is there?

You certainly make a good point.

Posted from my BlackBerry using BerryBlab

they should have banned their own facebook app on the same principles.

Originally Posted by wbeckle

they should have banned their own facebook app on the same principles.

How so? As far as I know, the app does not use your contact list to send out mass messages to other facebook users.

true but it sends your entire address book to an un-deletable and un-editable phonebook on facebook. the description of the contact list option doesn't suggest it would do that.

interestingly it only sends their names and numbers, at least that's all i can see when i look at it. moreover it stores the history so every person and number u have ever had on ur phone goes into this repository on facebook.

that causes me to view RIM in much the same way as Kik. Actually for me RIMs act is more potentially damaging than Kik's spam.

Another way to look at it is to realize that a BB is primarily a business device, so to create an app that does that is kinda naughty.

So basically my view is: to block an app like Kik although in line with their policy is hypocritical given their facebook app?

This just brings up a bigger issue. Why doesn't BBM allow me to talk with iphone's and Android devices. I think RIM needs to seriously consider opening up other devices to BBM. Maybe they charge for the app on other devices but apps like kik and others have made it so anyone can chat on any device (until this latest hold by RIM, although i'm still using it and loving it).

Thoughts?

Isn't there a Windows Live client on every platform?

Originally Posted by Nosivad79

This just brings up a bigger issue. Why doesn't BBM allow me to talk with iphone's and Android devices. I think RIM needs to seriously consider opening up other devices to BBM. Maybe they charge for the app on other devices but apps like kik and others have made it so anyone can chat on any device (until this latest hold by RIM, although i'm still using it and loving it).

Thoughts?

But why would RIM want to do that? They have a secure product that they are selling. Iphone and android do not have the push security that a blackberry has. It's this push security that makes the blackberry so attractive to business.

When comparing to other smartphones, everyone forgets that the blackberry was designed specifically for the business market. Yes, they are now making models more appealing to everyone, and yes, they are adding more games and apps for people to enjoy, but at the end of the day, it is the business market that remains RIM's core.

If RIM were to open the blackberry to the iphone or the android or any other model, RIM will eventually lose that edge. Other nations like India, UAE and et al, would no longer have to hold RIM hostage in order to sell and operate that device in those markets. If you held the market on a specific niche, would you so easily give it up?