It Was Only A Trial Run, Says Patanjali After Kimbho App Was Withdrawn From Google Play

Patanjali's Kimbho App was taken down from Google Play store within 24 hours of its launch, without an explanation, even as experts questioned the security on the app. Now, a day later, Patanjali has clarified and claimed that the app was put on Google play only for a trial run.

Spokesperson for Patanjali, SK Tijarawala took to Twitter and said that technical work on the app was in progress and it will be launched soon:

#पतंजलि ने #किम्भो एप मात्र 1 दिन के लिए प्ले स्टोर पर ट्रायल पर डाला था। मात्र 3 घंटे में ही 1.5 लाख लोग इसे डाउनलोड करने लगेेेे। हम इस भारी व उत्साहजनक रेस्पॉन्स के प्रति आभारी हैं।
Technical work is in progress &#KIMBHO APP will be officially launched soon @yogrishiramdevpic.twitter.com/hbcq8qpiPS

— tijarawala sk (@tijarawala) May 31, 2018

Tijarawal also alleged that there were many duplicate versions of the app that were available on the market.

Our trial version of #kimbho app is no longer available for download on any platform. We don't take any responsibility for many dulicate apps showing on anywhere. Beware!
आम सूचना..!#पतंजलि का #किम्भो एप का ट्रायल वर्जन अब कहीं भी डाउनलोड के लिए उपलब्ध नहीं है @yogrishiramdevhttps://t.co/KWkVrpoVge

— tijarawala sk (@tijarawala) May 31, 2018

In a statement, the official Twitter handle of the app said it was because of extremely high traffic on they app they were upgrading their servers.

We are facing extremely high traffic on Kimbho. We are in process of upgrading our servers and will be back shortly.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
Please stay tuned.#Kimbho#kimbhoApp#Swadeshi

— Kimbho Chat App (@KimbhoApp) May 31, 2018

Kimbho was launched on Wednesday and Patanjali said it was going to give WhatsApp tough competition. The Twitter account of the app also called for a complete boycott of WhatsApp and replace it with the "swadeshi version".

Huffpost India had reported on Thursday that the app that had the potential to be downloaded by millions already had major security lapses.

French security researcher Elliot Alderson said that it was possible to collect user information from the app by breaking into people's messages.

The Kimbho app asked for many permissions to be able to function fully. It needed access to the user's identity, contacts, location, text messages, phone calls, photos and files on your phone. It also, of course, needed access to the camera and microphone as well.