VietNamNet Bridge – Internet security firm Bkav has become the third local provider of OTT (over-the-top) services when launching its Internet-based Btalk app that allows users of tablets and smartphones to make free calls and send free text messages.

A Bkav representative presents Btalk app at a function in Hanoi on Wednesday.

The OTT apps available on the Vietnamese market before Btalk are Zalo of VNG Joint Stock Co. and Wala of MicroGame Corporation. VNG has 10 million Zalo subscribers after about two years of its launch.

Apart from domestic providers, Vietnam’s OTT market is joined by foreign providers Viber, Line, Kakao Talk and WeChat. The number of Viber users alone is approximately 12 million.

Bkav test-launched its Btalk app on the Google Play store late last month but did not allow users to download it before the official launch on Wednesday. This app is now available for free downloads on the store and can be used for smartphones and tablets running on Android operating system.

Bkav said it planned the versions of Btalk for iOS and Windows Phone systems by the third quarter of this year.

Like other OTT apps, Btalk allows users to make phone calls, send photo and text messages and hold group chats among others. It is also integrated with other chat apps of Facebook, Yahoo and Gtalk.

Nguyen Tu Hoang, vice director of Bkav software section, said most of the various apps for the OTT had not satisfied users due to low quality and interruptions.

Bkav has tried to apply new technology to ensure its Btalk to support smooth calls based on the Internet infrastructure of Vietnam. Despite much investment in this app, the company said it was providing the service for free and did not have any plan to earn revenue from this.

As usual, OTT service providers in Vietnam and elsewhere in the world generate revenues from selling stickers of funny images, from the phone calls which users make to those who do not use the app, from advertisements and other channels.

Source: SGT