Cambodian version of WhatsApp released
A new chat and messaging app called “CoolApp” has been launched in Cambodia amidst fanfare and controversy as it has been dubbed the “Khmer WhatsApp”.
CoolApp, which was only launched this month already has 150,000 users according to a company spokesman and has received backing from the highest echelons of Cambodian politics.
CoolApp gets government backing
The new chat app has received the backing of no less than former Prime-Minister Hun Sen who announced the following on Facebook “It is the first-ever Cambodian program and used within the Cambodian security domain. Other countries have their own social media means of communication like China’s WeChat, Vietnam’s Zalo, South Korea’s Kakao Talk and Russia’s Telegram, so in Cambodia”
Currently the Cambodian messing scene is dominated by Russia’s Telegram, which is extremely popular for social, as well as business exchanges within the Kingdom.
What can we expect from CoolApp?
According to founder and CEO Lim Cheavutha the app has been downloaded 150,000 times and does not monitor, collect or store user data. And much like more renowned apps like WhatsApp uses end to end encryption to increase security.
“Only you and the person you are communicating with can read or listen — nobody in between,” he told journalists.
He also confidently predicated that the app would have “500,000 to 1 million downloads” although he did not give an exact timeframe on this.
The company is confident it can take on big guns like Telegram and WhatsApp because its features and usage will be tailored to the Khmer market.
It is hoped that might expand to being a local variant of an “Everything” app, much like WeChat and the plans for X (formerly Twitter). This could lead to users being able to transfer money to each other, pay bills and even book tickets and services.
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Author: Gareth Johnson
Gareth Johnson is the founder of Young Pioneer Tours and has visited over 180+ countries. His passion is opening obscure destinations to tourism and sharing his experience of street food.
