Lots of web based services have gone mobile before be it naukri, sulekha or makemytrip and many others. But one may say these are not transactional services. Mobile apps that facilitate transactions have been launched by the likes of bookmyshow and online travel portals like cleartrip.
Now its time for even movie rental folks to look at the burgeoning mobile market and launch a mobile client. BigFlix which is the movie rental service by Reliance ADAG has launched its own hybrid mobility-oriented services though a Smart Client app, WAP, SMS and Voice. It had earliertied up with mChek for mobile payments and this the next step in going mobile.
To download the BIGFlix Smart Client application to their handheld devices, users have to simply have to SMS “BIGFLIX” to 55454. BIGFlix then will send a SMS reply containing an active link “http://mobile.bigflix.com“. The user has to on this link to commence the downloading, followed by few step-by-step on-screen installation instructions.
Our take - With online transactions getting tougher with 3rd factor verification rules by RBI Bigflix seem to be looking ato mobile to accellerate both growth and sales. With an average of 10 million mobile users adding up every month, India is the third largest growing mobile market in the world. Thus this move is made keeping in mind the rapid growth in the mobile user-base. Whether there will be an uptake of this app that remains to be seen. I personally feel downloadable apps aren’t going to be that successful in India in the short term.
While BigFlix is launching mobile apps Planet41 the mobile vas company based out of Mumbai islooking to go for an IPO this fiscal. Planet41 provides bulk sms, mobile entertainment and mobile solutions for enterprises. They are also said to be in talks with an Israel firm to build a 3G R&D centre out of India. We wonder if this IPO announcement would actually materialize into a real IPO. As we have seen with some other digital startups announcement is very easy its the actual successful IPO that is tough.
