Opera on Wednesday announced the launch of Hype, its in-built dedicated chat service, in South Africa. Build right into the Opera Mini mobile web browser, Hype promises to redefine the concept of mobile browsers, providing users with a personalized, engaging browsing experience that enables seamless chatting, surfing, and sharing, without compromising speed or driving increased data consumption. Hype is the first African-inspired chat service built into a mobile browser, allowing users to easily set up an account and start chatting with secure end-to-end encryption right away. This means users can now browse the web, chat with friends, and share self-created memes, stickers, and GIFs with other Hype users, all in one app.
Hype was created with the younger generations in mind as internet users are expecting more social connectivity from the apps they use daily on their devices. With this integration, Opera Mini becomes the first major browser in the world to integrate a social component that keeps users connected to the ones that matter the most. This unique and innovative blend is something that no other mobile browser in the Google Play Store offers.
Jørgen Arnesen, EVP Mobile Browsers at Opera was quoted saying “Hype is an original instant messaging service from Opera, designed for the new generation of African internet users to elevate the traditional browsing experience and make it more engaging. With Opera Mini and a Hype account, South Africans can enjoy a browsing and chatting ecosystem tailored to their needs.”
“Hype bridges cultures from Sub-Saharan Africa with mobile technology, as the world’s first African-inspired chat service.”
Hype was first introduced in 2021 in Kenya as a pilot market, and it is already showing notable results with over 400k activations and more than 10k invites to join Hype daily. This launch was one facet of Opera’s emphasis on investing and growing its digital ecosystem in Africa, with the goal of bringing more people online.
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