Classifieds company Quikr has launched a new instant messaging feature called Quikr Nxt, that enables real time conversations between buyers and sellers. The feature is available on Quikr’s mobile site, desktop site as well as on its mobile app. This feature seems to have rolled out to all newer ads on Quikr and it also shows when the seller was last online. Interestingly, we also noticed that sellers now have an privacy option called 'Maintain my Privacy' which allows them to hide their phone numbers, instead directing buyers to contact via chat. Buyers can click on the ‘Chat Now’ icon displayed next to product, a chat window pops up and gets the user to register (if not registered). It also lets participants share images with each other. Users can also have multiple parallel chat sessions with multiple other users, save notifications when users are offline and access the entire chat history on their respective accounts. Implications (by Vikas SN) This is a significant move for Quikr, since it will enable sellers to avoid all unsolicited calls and chat with the buyer before closing the deal. This will also allow users who are wary of sharing their numbers on their ads, to post ads on Quikr. I've heard of several instances wherein people have avoided postings ads on Quikr or Olx because they had to share their phone numbers. It also allows Quikr to play a more prominent role in the transaction cycle and the next logical step for the company would probably be powering the payments for these transactions, and take a commission…
