Local firm trials messenging app

The National Business

A LOCAL software development company is trialing a messenging app that is being marketed as the PNG version of WhatsApp.
OneCloud PNG founder Trevor Gankarch told The National the app was being developed on the back of the company’s experience with the development of contextualised apps for State-owned entities like Air Niugini and Mineral Resources Authority.
“OneCloud built the Android versions of various clients in the likes of Mineral Resources Authority ecommerce app, Telikom’s 4G SIM registration app, several tour companies tour booking apps and even a digitised boarding app for airline companies in the country,” Gankarch said
“One of our signature products is Tokchat, an instant messeging app in which we are running trials. It is suited for the PNG context and has a bit of PNG flavour in it, though there were talks about other similar apps in PNG but we are trying to produce something different for our users.
“Users can download the test version on Google Play store, simply search for Tokchat and add their friends for ephemeral chatting experience, we keep innovating further. A lot of reviews, mostly bad ones, actually help us do the product well.”
Gankarch explained the company had come a long way since it started four years ago, especially with cloud-based software being new to the country.
“Back then, many people did not understand what we were trying to deliver as the internet age was a bit slowly gaining momentum in Papua New Guinea,” he said.
OneCloud is focused on developing, designing and maintaining software for businesses, companies and SMEs in the country and with more people spending time on mobile apps, the market is ripe.
“Our aim is simple. We want to offer services in all the mobile applications we have built so far and expand and innovate further in this mobile space, growing technology trends in the world right now in terms of AI (artificial intelligence), virtual reality, augmentation reality and blockchain to name a few. We are utilising this in our clients’ products.”