By Computerworld Philippines Staff
February 22, 2010

A mobile social network service called MOKO.mobi (MOKO) which facilitates chat, media sharing and social networking over the mobile phone, had recently reached its “2 millionth user” mark in the Philippines, reported Chikka Asia, Inc., creators of the popular Chikka Text Messenger.

The service is also generating hundreds of thousands of MMS uploads a month, added Chikka Asia, who partnered with MOKO’s developer MOKO.mobi Limited in 2009 to launch the service across leading mobile network operators in the Philippines. MOKO is currently available to subscribers of Globe Telecom and Smart Communications.

Besides the Philippines, MOKO.mobi is also available across mobile networks in the US, UK, Australia, Malaysia, India, and Brazil, and is scheduled to be launched in Spain soon.

“MOKO was one of the first services to bring the power of social networking to the mobile phone when it launched in Australia in 2005, and we are glad to be playing a part in bringing one of the most exciting global mobile services to Philippine mobile subscribers,” said Chito Bustamante, executive officer of Chikka.

Yet Ian Rodwell, CEO of Sydney-based MOKO.mobi Limited, commented that MOKO is emerging as an alternative to Facebook and Twitter on the mobile phone.

“Because [with MOKO] you can do everything from your mobile, meet new people and make friends, while at the same time protect your privacy,” Rodwell said. “You don’t need a PC to create and manage your account or to upload your own content, and this is very important in Asian markets where mobile web use continues to outpace PC web use.” 

Rodwell added MOKO is also “chat focused” making it very immediate and easy for people to connect and have fun straight away.

Bustamante said MOKO’s success indicates Filipinos’ love for social networking and that more and more of them are accessing such services via their mobile phones.

“We have always believed the mobile web would be very compelling, especially for Filipinos, who have rapidly embraced social networking not only on the web, but now from their mobile phones,” Bustamante said. – Tom S. Noda

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