Gagan Kaul Blog

Just got a beta invite from Mabber for their new mobile chat application, which is built on the jabber framework. A very neat application which works both on the web as well as on a mobile phone.

Here is a screenshot of the application in the beta stage:

On accessing the website and logging in, the site launches an Instant Messenger window that provides access to the following gateways - Yahoo, Hotmail, ICQ and AIM. The interface is good with the ability to categorize users and IM functionality is also fast. You would see another excellent use of AJAX in this application. I think AJAX is to Web 2.0 what Javascript/Flash was to Web 1.0.

The new technology is going to reduce the sms messaging charges for sure, but at the same time the rising GPRS access charges from mobile companies would be a bother for this new application. The USP of this service is to provide a means to chat with others through this app with the assumption that data transfer (read GPRS on a GSM network) will always be priced lower than the price of a single sms. So one can chat for long without spending too much money. However, for a place like Mumbai where Hutch charges 10p per 10kb download, long chats could be an issue.

Another thing to be noted is that the application does not work if you have a basic GPRS subscription. You would need the advanced GPRS connection (priced at INR 499 by Hutch Mumbai) to use this app. Further, the popularity of GPRS and Internet access through mobile phones is a trend still in its infancy in India. So these kind of applications might take some time to pick steam in India. However, on a positive note, technologies like these are redefining the mobile communications space and as the innovation persists, this would also put a lot of pressure on the mobile service providers to think of new ways to gain revenue. And as for those who have web access through their mobile devices, this should prove to be a better means to communicate compared to sending sms.

There is not much visibility on the business model but the company might go for subscription-based models in future. The token that I received for mobile access is valid till 1 March 2006. Operating in an emerging space, here is wishing Mabber the very best.

Thanks to TechCrunch for providing the invite. You can check out the review of Mabber there.