Internet users, especially women are vulnerable to spam calls and harassment, making them uncomfortable to receive calls from random people online or contact for deals. OLX is trying to ease this mental block through its newly launched OLX App which comes with an enhanced security features that will help protect the privacy of the users.
The new app from OLX, which offers free classified ads in India, aims at increasing the penetration of online classifieds across regions and age-groups. The company said that it is expecting to double the growth after the introduction of OLX App.
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A source from OLX said that women are prone to getting unwanted spam calls from strangers that can disturb them, but its new app -- OLX App -- has security features that will protect the identity of the users unless they intentionally want to share personal information with the public. The source added that this security feature may encourage more people, especially women to use the platform.
The just launched OLX App is different from other apps. It is mandatory for all users, both sellers and buyers, to register through Facebook, Google+, or phone number for accessing the platform to make it more secure. The company said this feature will "help in bringing women users to the platform by providing a safer environment for them to transact in."
Another feature of the new app that will catch the attention of the users is "Chat First, Restrictions on Calling." Under this feature, the phone number of the seller is not revealed, which means the seller and prospective buyer can correspond to each other only through chat initially using the chat window until they feel the need to talk over phone. It will benefit women users who look for platforms that protect their identity.
The new app also comes with "Snap and Post" feature that allows users to post an ad in as less as 10 seconds, and "Hyper Local Experience" feature that facilitates users to find great products in their vicinity, making transaction easier.
"With our new App, we have made significant improvements on three fronts in particular. First, features such as 'Chat First' are bold, industry-first moves that along with mandatory registration enhance the trustworthiness of the platform, making our users more secure. Second, by allowing users to see products closest to them, we have tried to provide an authentic hyper-local classifieds experience based on ease and simplicity," said Amarjit Singh Batra, CEO, OLX India in a statement.
The security aspect of OLX App will make users feel more secure, as most people don't want to share personal details like phone number on public platforms.
