iWorld
Vodafone soars high on Twitter Brand Index during IPL 8
MUMBAI: The first two weeks of the Indian Premier League (IPL) have been breathtaking from both a cricketing stand point as well as the action being seen seeing from brands on Twitter.
Just like it did during #CWC15, Twitter compiled a list of the top brands on this IPL. Using an aggregate of Re-Tweets, Favourites and Replies, the social networking site has created a Twitter IPL Advertiser Index to acknowledge the top five brands that have excelled in the opening two weeks of the tournament.
The Twitter Brand Engagement Index and the details of what each brand did on the social networking site is as follows:
1) @VodafoneIn- Vodafone has gained a lot of momentum in the first two weeks of IPL, through a contest called #VodafoneSpeedQuiz . With tickets to matches up for grab, the brand has been able to generate a lot of buzz through this campaign. The contest is a smart way for the brand to build equity on Faster Speeds which is core of their new campaign #SpeedIsGood
https://twitter.com/VodafoneIN/status/587623871689449472
2) @HotStarTweets – The Twitter account for Star’s Hotstar.com, @HotStarTweets generated a lot engagement around content based on updates from the games, teaser questions, trivia and a competition offering IPL tickets. @HotStarTweets is looking to take the platform’s content digital to greater users and been able to engage with the online Twitter user using the most topical bits of content
He’s the King of the mountain, the alpha male, 7000 T20 runs, the name is #hotstar Chris Gayle! @RCBTweets #KKRvRCB pic.twitter.com/2s9vnqQgpP
— JioHotstar (@JioHotstar) April 11, 2015
3) @KingFisherWorld – The official handle of the good times this IPL; Kingfisher’s campaign idea is ‘Divided by teams, United by Kingfisher.’ With this, the company aims to bring the followers of all the IPL teams together on a common platform to celebrate and express their love for the game. They are also team sponsors for many IPL teams and it’s refreshing to see some great behind the scenes content from these teams, which @KingfisherWorld is sharing as well. The big hashtag this IPL for Kingfisher has been #UnitedByGoodTimes. This week the first preview of the new Kingfisher TVC was revealed online with the hashtag #OoLaLaLaLeO
Look who's been singing the #OoLaLaLaLeO tune – want to join in? #UnitedByGoodTimes pic.twitter.com/V6Bu0NJbHr
— Kingfisher (@kingfisherworld) April 22, 2015
4) @FreeCharge – Freecharge is engaging users with a prediction contest this IPL with prizes up for grabs. Users are asked to predict outcomes of the game; a conversation that many users are more than happy to engage in.
Be the first to send in your prediction and win prizes! #FreeCharge2020. Only your first entry will be considered. pic.twitter.com/zLp35EanVM
— Freecharge (@Freecharge) April 19, 2015
5) @OlaCabs – Ola is the official cab partner for five IPL teams namely Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL), Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan), Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip), Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers).
With every match, users stand a chance to win two free tickets to the match from the “Ola app” through the ‘Hit the Match Day’ icon. The brand is building excitement and is increasing engagement around this contest, which is creating a good amount of buzz. They are promoting this activity by using the hashtag #ChaloNiklo.
#Chennai
Crazy for #CSK? RT and reply with #OlaMatchDay to stand a chance to win tickets for tomorrow's match @ChennaiIPL #CSKvsSRH— Ola (@Olacabs) April 10, 2015
iWorld
X launches XChat messaging app on iOS with calls and encryption
Standalone app marks shift from “everything app” vision, adds E2E messaging.
MUMBAI: From one big app to many small chats, X seems to be splitting its ambitions. X has rolled out its standalone messaging app, XChat, to iOS users, opening up a new front in its evolving product strategy. The app allows users to connect with existing X contacts through private and group messages, file sharing, as well as audio and video calls. The launch follows a limited beta phase, where the platform tested the product with a smaller user base to refine the experience. Now available publicly, XChat marks a notable pivot from earlier ambitions championed by Elon Musk to turn X into a single “everything app” combining messaging, payments, commerce and more.
Instead, the company under xAI ownership and backed by SpaceX appears to be building a suite of standalone applications, each targeting specific use cases while expanding its broader ecosystem.
At launch, XChat includes end-to-end encrypted messaging, PIN-based access, disappearing messages, and features such as message editing, deletion for all participants, and screenshot blocking. The company has also said the app is free from advertisements and tracking mechanisms, positioning it as a privacy-first alternative in a crowded messaging space.
However, security claims around the platform are likely to face scrutiny. Earlier iterations of XChat drew criticism from experts who argued it fell short of established encrypted platforms like Signal. With the wider rollout, the app is expected to undergo fresh evaluation to assess whether those concerns have been addressed.
Beyond messaging, XChat will also house X’s Communities feature, which is being discontinued on the main platform due to low usage and spam concerns. Migrating these users could provide an early boost to adoption, effectively turning XChat into both a communication and community hub.
The move underscores a broader recalibration at X less about cramming everything into one app, and more about spreading bets across multiple touchpoints, one message at a time.
