Telkomsel has just released an unlimited use package for four popular mobile apps which include Opera mini, Line, WhatsApp, and KakaoTalk. The telco is offering a daily, weekly, and a monthly package. The monthly package costs just Rp 30,000 per month. Previously this package includes only Opera mini and WhatsApp. Telkomsel is also offering a set of Meet the Blob emoticons which are available for free for Line and KakaoTalk users.

By subscribing to this package Telkomsel subscribers can explore the Internet and exchange text messages to their hearts’ content using the apps that are available on iOS, Android, BlackBerry, and even Windows Phone. The three messaging apps have been gaining popularity among Indonesian smartphone users at the expense of BlackBerry Messenger which obviously is exclusive to BlackBerry phones.

At this time, messaging has become a social network platform of its own. WhatsApp, Line, and KakaoTalk all have tens of millions of users across the world and potentially could kill the traditional SMS business which have been part of the cellular industry for a long time. An astute telco will naturally see the potential increase in revenue by embracing these messaging apps.

We previously have reviewed the business strategy of KakaoTalk which will make a big splash into the Indonesian market in August. Other than the Meet the Blob emoticon series, KakaoTalk has launched another emoticon series called “Fun Ramadhan with Popoo” in observance of the fasting month.