It is undoubtedly a booming time for free mobile messenger applications in Vietnam, as ads featuring apps that enable users to communicate free of charge via their smartphones can now be found on almost all means of media.
Local smartphone users can come across ads for such apps as Zalo, Line, or Kakao Talk everywhere, from their daily newspapers to ads aired amid their favorite TV shows every night.
A free mobile messenger app is software available on iOS, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone operating systems, and which provides users with free text and free call features.
Manufacturers of these apps are spending unprecedented marketing expenses to lure Vietnamese users, as smartphones have become quite common in the country.
VNG, for instance, is launching a large promotional campaign for its Zalo app. While the effectiveness of the marketing remains to be seen, a source close to the matter revealed that the company has sunk tens of billions of dong into the deal.
Kakao Talk, a South Korean product, and Line, a made-in-Japan app, are also appearing on TV ads and other media means that attract local youths.
While these apps promise free-of-charge features, insiders have warned users that they may have to pay using fees in the future, or fall prey to hackers.
Potential threats
Vo Do Thang, director of the internet security training center Athena, said users' devices may become infected with viruses or malware if they download and install the apps from unknown sources.
“The infected devices will thus be manipulated by hackers and users will lose their data or have their phone calls wiretapped,” he warned.
With the number of smartphone users constantly increasing while few of them have adequate knowledge about internet security, cases of free messenger apps infected with virus are also on the rise, he added.
Another question is how the app suppliers will recoup investment when they provide the apps to users for free.
“The app suppliers will launch other services based on the app and charge users for these added values,” said Nguyen Quoc Minh, chairman of Wala Co., supplier of the namesake app.
VNG deputy CEO Vuong Quang Khai also said the suppliers may charge users for added values on the messenger apps.
“Developing free mobile messenger apps is a world trend and this will bring a number of features for users,” he said.