Report: Russia’s Odnoklassniki launches own ads-free messenger

MOSCOW, Jul 14 (PRIME) -- Russian social network Odnoklassniki, owned by Internet giant Mail.Ru Group, has launched its own messenger, OK Messages, for the iOS and Android platforms without advertisements, news portal Vesti.ru reported Thursday.

The messenger has been tested since April in Bulgaria and several countries of Central Asia.

Users can exchange messages, photos, videos, audio messages and GIF animation. The application functions on an independent basis without mandatory links to the social network.

Odnoklassniki’s representatives said the service was designed within a year.

According to TNS Mobile Index, WhatsApp was the most popular messenger in the country in May with a monthly audience of 9.3 million people. It was followed by Viber with 8 million people.

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