Kimbho, Baba Ramdev’s ‘swadeshi’ messaging app, disappears from Google Play Store

Yoga guru Ramdev's "swadeshi" messaging app called "Kimbho" that aims to take on WhatsApp and WeChat has suddenly disappeared from Google Play Store.

However, the app launched on Wednesday is still seen on iOS App Store.

Several people who tried to download the app from Play Store were amused at its sudden disappearance. It is not clear why the Kimbho app, which was pitched as the Swadeshi chat app in competition with WhatsApp, has vanished from the Google and iOS play stores.

Elliot Anderson, the French security researcher who found holes in Aadhaar security, also pointed that Kimbho is full of bugs and that he could access all messages users were sending using the app. Chances are that Kimbho app was deleted because Patanjali Communications is fixing bugs. Or maybe the whole app was some sort of a joke and that it is over now.

In his tweet, Elliot said, "Ok, I will stop here. The #Kimbho #android #app is a security disaster. I can access the messages of all the users... This @KimbhoApp is a joke, next time before making press statements, hire competent developers... If it is not clear, for the moment don't install this app. #Kimbho #KimbhoApp", reported India Today.

Kimbho is a Sanskrit word and according to Patanjai's spokesperson SK Tijarawala, it means "How are you? or What's new?"

"Now Bharat will speak. After launching sim cards, Ramdev has launched a new messaging application called 'Kimbho'," Tijarawala tweeted late on Wednesday.

"Now WhatsApp will be given a competition. Our own #SwadeshiMessagingplatform. Download it directly from Google Play store," he added.

According to Faisal Kawoosa, Head New Initiatives, CyberMedia Research (CMR), it will not be easy for "Kimbho" to create a space dominated by WhatsApp for just on being "Swadeshi."

"So far, just around 5k installations and reviews are full of issues and concerns. Nevertheless, seems Patanjali is getting serious about communications," Kawoosa tweeted.

"Kimbho is a real time messaging app.

"Kimbho empowers private group chat with free phone and video calling. It has dozens of amazing features to share text audio, photos, videos, stickers, quickies, location, GIF, Doodle and more," read the description on iOS App Store.

with inputs from NH Web Desk