Ahwar signs up 200k subscribers in first two months
Lebanon based Ahwar, the instant messaging client in Arabic medium, has signed up over 200k subscribers during the two months since its launch. With the rate it is securing new subscriptions, the company is targeting 2 million users by the end of 2008.
Ahwar offers text chat as well as VoIP and video calls. VoIP comes in form of PC-to-PC as well as PC-to-Phone. The VoIP capability has been developed using open source SIP stacks and interoperates with Yahoo, MSN, Google and other major voice-enabled IM clients.
The reasons for Ahwar’s success seem to be the localization of its IM sofphone client. The messenger has two versions – Arabic and English. Of the total downloads so far around 99% have been for Arabic version. Besides that, the FAQ support and 24x7 online support is all in Arabic. Ahwar service is supported by ads which are sourced from the local companies in the Middle East.
VoIP provider Splendor Telecom is the brains behind Ahwar.
