Smart buys Chikka.com

It’s been confirmed that yesterday Smart Communications has bought Chikka.com for some undisclosed amount. Two top executives from Chikka Asia Inc. posted updates on their Twitter account about this development.

This has long been rumored but we’ve finally gotten word that they’ve both signed off on the agreement yesterday.

Dennis Mendiola is the Founder and Chief Imagination Officer of Chikka:

dennis mendiola

Gio Bacareza is the Business Development Director of Chikka:

gio bacareza

I’m still getting some more details and will update this post as I get them.

Chikka Asia, Inc. is a wireless application service provider, better known for creating the world’s first instant messenger to fully integrate mobile features via SMS, the Chikka Messenger. It has about 38 million registered users, including mobile subscribers from network operators worldwide and is interoperable with Google Talk .

Update: According to multiple sources, the deal was in the vicinity of Php750USD 13INR 1,083EUR 12CNY 93 million.

Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

https://www.yugatech.com

42 Comments

berkano says:

15 years ago

Interesting bit of news… Will the Chikka service be expanded to Western territories then?
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Millionaire Acts says:

15 years ago

Wow! This is good news! And this adds portfolio to Smart’s Services. I’m sure with the integration of these two companies, there would be other services that Smart would offer to its subscribers soon.
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cutemoboy says:

15 years ago

ow.. Thats y i cant connect to chikka since yesterday.. mybe der uprading or somthing.. i just hope this merge between smart and chikka will be good & w/o a catch to its service in the future..
& hope the app & service will still be FREE!
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Leo says:

15 years ago

will they still allow free texting to globe and sun cell networks?
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alfredo says:

15 years ago

it’s about time!
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PoptheCorn says:

15 years ago

I am not sure if this is a good move. we’ll see. There were free internet based free sms before that did not work.
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Carlo Dimaandal says:

15 years ago

Err I wonder what’ll happen to their free text service?
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Jervis says:

15 years ago

I think this is a win-win move for both parties =) And its consumers will get more, with expanded mobile services.
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Christopher Quijano says:

15 years ago

But I think this will conflict with their “other” chat network/free sms product – Uzzap. I wonder how Smart will market it with their product line up.

I think smart won’t buy a non-income generating product/company.
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Kelvin Servigon says:

15 years ago

Good to know that Smart is expanding its services! :D
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