With over 100 million registered users, there’s no doubt that Kik Messenger is one of the world’s heavyweight messaging applications when it comes to popularity. Kik’s Webkit-based Cards that add downloadable games and features to the application can be attributed to some of this popularity.
Kik users can access any website and share it with their friends
Not content to simply stop there, Kik Interactive is launching a URL and search bar within its native app to become the first smartphone messenger with a built-in browser. The new in-app browser allows Kik users to access any website on the Internet and instantly share it with their Kik friends.
The app also includes a new search feature, which utilizes the built-in browser to help users find and share anything on the Web without ever having to leave the messaging app. Searching for “games” will even present users with a prioritized list of games that have been optimized for Kik and for the mobile Web.
Of course, Kik also provides developers with the HTML5 tools and libraries necessary to insure that their website is optimized for the mobile web and the Kik Messenger app. Kik also helps developers and brands promote their content to Kik’s global community.
“The launch of the Kik Browser … proves our commitment to developers and the mobile web”
“The launch of the Kik Browser marks a huge milestone for Kik, and really proves our commitment to developers and the mobile Web,” said Kik CEO Ted Livingston. “This is why we’ve built our device, social and distribution APIs and are making them available to any developer, to make it as easy as possible for them to optimize their web pages for mobile.”
This past fall, Kik helped new mobile app developer Koa.la to launch an HTML5 game called Costume Party on the Kik platform, which reached 1 million users in just 22 hours. The company hopes to work with even more brands to provide users with additional fun experiences on its messaging platform.