Bondee is a virtual avatar social networking app developed by Singapore-based tech firm Metadream. It is a platform for connecting and interacting with others by using a personalized figure-style avatar. Launched in January 2023, the app quickly gained popularity in Asia and topped App Store charts in several countries.

History and development

Metadream, an independent Singapore-based tech company, acquired the intellectual property (IP) rights for True.ly in May 2022. It was founded by investors from the United States and Australia, with

research and development Research and development (R&D or R+D), known in some countries as OKB, experiment and design, is the set of innovative activities undertaken by corporations or governments in developing new services or products. R&D constitutes the first stage ...

(R&D) and operational bases in Japan and South Korea, as well as data centers in Singapore, Japan, and the US, to ensure product safety and meet data security requirements. The company plans to establish regional operation centers in additional countries (such as Thailand and the Philippines) to serve local users. On November 15, 2022, it was announced that information technology (IT)

startup company A startup or start-up is a company or project undertaken by an Entrepreneurship, entrepreneur to seek, develop, and validate a scalable business model. While entrepreneurship includes all new businesses including self-employment and businesses tha ...

, Metadream, would launch Bondee, a figure-style avatar messenger application. The virtual avatar application was then officially launched on January 17, 2023.

Features

Bondee is a messenger application that allows users to send and receive messages from friends and acquaintances, "express their current mood, condition, situation," or others through a "figure-style" avatar, and "exhibit" it to the other person using the app. It is available on operating systems such as iOS 13.0 and above and Android 8.0 and up versions. Upon opening the app, users would be able to customize their personal "3D virtual" self from a "wide selection" of avatars, hairstyles, clothing, shoes, and accessories; then, they would be redirected to create a virtual space or home with pieces of furniture, fixtures, and fittings. Users can also participate in "virtual" activities such as camping, swinging, dancing, sailing, visiting each other's rooms with friends, and leaving notes.

Reception

Bondee topped

App Store An app store, also called an app marketplace or app catalog, is a type of digital distribution platform for computer software called applications, often in a mobile context. Apps provide a specific set of functions which, by definition, do not i ...

charts in multiple countries and had over five million downloads on

Google Play Google Play, also known as the Google Play Store, Play Store, or sometimes the Android Store (and was formerly Android Market), is a digital distribution service operated and developed by Google. It serves as the official app store for certifie ...

, "record-breaking" seven months faster than

Instagram Instagram is an American photo sharing, photo and Short-form content, short-form video sharing social networking service owned by Meta Platforms. It allows users to upload media that can be edited with Social media camera filter, filters, be ...

. Since its launch in January 2023, it has gained large popularity in Asia. The application's graphics are 3D and customizable, allowing users to exhibit and pick their choices. Its interface was also compared to ''

Animal Crossing is a social simulation video game series developed and published by Nintendo. It was created by Katsuya Eguchi and Hisashi Nogami. The player character is a human who lives in a village inhabited by various anthropomorphic animals and can ...

Habbo Hotel ''Habbo'', also called ''Habbo Hotel'', is a virtual world and massively multiplayer online game. It is owned and operated by Sulake. Founded in 2000, ''Habbo'' has expanded to nine online communities (or "hotels"), with users from more tha ...

,'' and ''

The Sims ''The Sims'' is a series of life simulation video games developed by Maxis and Video game publisher, published by Electronic Arts. The franchise has sold nearly 200 million copies worldwide, and is one of the List of best-selling video game fran ...

'' for the game's functions. It also received mixed to positive reactions wherein the game was said to be "lacking in some features" regarding the ability to play games with friends.

Controversy

In late January 2023, Singapore-based social networking app Bondee faced allegations of unauthorized credit card transactions. Users shared screenshots online, claiming their bank accounts had been charged without consent. Bondee's parent company refuted these claims, stating that the app does not collect users' financial information. Cybersecurity experts noted that Bondee appears to be safe, as it does not request permissions beyond its scope.

References

External links

Official website
{{Online social networking Singaporean brands 2023 establishments in Singapore 2023 software Mobile software Social media companies Social networking services Android (operating system) software IOS software