SubscribePapaya: Turning Your Phonebook into A Mobile SNS
Papaya Mobile, which is a startup co-founded by an ex-Googler, who worked on mobile applications and services in Google, and one of her alumni in Tsinghua University. Papaya currently only has English version, and only targets to overseas market.
On its website, Papaya describe itself as “a mobile phone application that allows you to communicate with your friends cheaply and easily. It turns your phonebook into the best social network”. Yes, it intends to build a mobile social networks, taking advantage of importing your phonebook, and adding your contacts as your friends automatically, once they register Papaya. Then you can send free sms and make cheap call with your friends on Papaya.
It even has a built-in mobile IM function for you to send instant messenges and share files with friends, but it does not reinvent wheel by itself, it just allows you to use AIM, Yahoo IM, MSN IM, Google Talk, and ICQ on you mobile phone to chat with your friends.
Besides these, what I think most interesting is that Papaya has a online casual game platform, currently featuring over ten games you can play with friends. They think game is an important feature in a mobile SNS to improve users stickiness, and also there is good chance of monetizing the SNS via games. Si Shen, the ex-Googler, also told me that they will build it as an open mobile game platform later.
Though Papaya has so many features, now its java version is only about 120k. Si believe that to keep it small size and low bandwidth consumption is also Papaya’s competitive advantage. Now it has kjava version and iPhone version available. Si said they will launch an Android version soon.
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