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2go

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This article is about the mobile and social network company. For other uses of 2go, see 2go (disambiguation).
2go Chat – Chatrooms & Dating
Developer(s)2go Interactive (Pty) Ltd
Initial release2007
Operating systemAndroid, Java ME, Linux, BlackBerry OS BlackBerry 10
TypeInstant Messenger, Mobile Social Network
LicenseFreeware
Websitem.2go.im

2go is a semi-free mobile social networking and online dating service offering in-app purchases. The app is provided by 2go Interactive (Pty) Ltd which is currently based in Cape Town, South Africa. 2go also functions as an Advertising and Market Research Platform. Brands and advertising agencies employ the 2go Ad Platform to target and engage with 2go's user base and the 2go Market Research offering uses the 2go community to conduct real-time surveys and polls and deliver actionable insights to clients.[1][2]

History

2go was created in 2007 in Johannesburg, South Africa, by a group of University of Witwatersrand computer science students. The service was originally developed as a students-only mobile website intended to function as a communication tool among students for the uploading and sharing of timetables, lectures, and rendezvous with each other.[3][4]

In 2008, two of the founders[who?] exited, leaving Alan Wolff and Ashley Peter behind.[5] Under their management, 2go moved away from the students-only model by targeting developing markets in Africa such as Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana.[3][6] Despite a lack of external investment[7] 2go continued to grow due to its focus on feature phones which most African mobile markets consisted of at the time.[8] Peter Lockhart and Marc Herson later joined the 2go team as directors with consulting and coaching services rendered by Michal Leon.[9][10]

In June 2013, 2go for Android was released on the Google Play Store and in December 2014 it had reached over 2 million monthly active users.[11][12] The Android version influenced many design changes and additions which other platforms received in the v3.5 release.[13][14] 2go for BlackBerry 10 was released in April 2014.[15]

In 2014 2go reported that over 7 billion messages were sent across the service per month, mainly within the pay-to-use chatrooms where users are charged per message sent, as well as per invitation sent, and per profile view, in the platform's currency called GoCredits which users have to buy.[16]

According to multiple user reviews on Google's Play Store, 2go also charges users for requesting help with forgotten passwords and additionally randomly charges them to enter chatrooms where they are required to re-verify the mobile number linked to their account. Other reviews indicated that 2go does not have individual or group voice and video calling functionality yet.[17]

The major reason why 2go failed was because they could not innovate fast enough to survive on Android which came all of a sudden.[18]

2go simply could not innovate truly adding any new feature or even optimizing it well for Android. They merely ported its code base onto Android without developing anything new on that platform.[18]

References

  1. ^ "Marc Herson". Bizcommunity. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  2. ^ "Look out! It's Africa's next Mxit - TechCentral". 2012-09-19. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  3. ^ a b Monique Verduyn. "2go: Alan Wolff and Ashley Peter". Archived from the original on 2018-09-15. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
  4. ^ "How two twenty-somethings built one of Nigeria's biggest mobile social networks". How We Made It In Africa.
  5. ^ "SA's own Sergey Brin and Larry Page". Fin24.
  6. ^ "2go founders able to spurn investors and ride growth wave". Archived from the original on 2015-01-10. Retrieved 2014-01-21.
  7. ^ Imaralu, Douglas (2012-09-27). "Meet The Co-Founders Of Africa's Hottest Mobile App, 2go". Ventures Africa. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  8. ^ Kelly Levinsohn. "Social network 2go heads for smartphone users". Bandwidth Blog.
  9. ^ "Look out! It's Africa's next Mxit - TechCentral". 2012-09-19. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  10. ^ "TML Coaching – Transforming Management & Leadership". Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  11. ^ "Mobile messenger 2go now has 2-million Android users". Memeburn.
  12. ^ "2go lands on Android". Archived from the original on 2014-06-06. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
  13. ^ "2go - Android Apps on Google Play".
  14. ^ "2go mobile social network".
  15. ^ "2go - BlackBerry World". Archived from the original on 2014-06-07. Retrieved 2014-06-04.
  16. ^ "The importance of advertising on mobile, director of 2go IM service shares stats". Archived from the original on 2014-02-21. Retrieved 2014-01-21.
  17. ^ Omenyuru, Jeff (2023-12-09). "Product case study: 2go Chat". Medium. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  18. ^ a b "TechNext Series: 4 Failings that Led to the Decline of 2Go - Technext". 2018-08-07. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
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