Affle launches Pinch smartphone messaging app

Affle has announced the launch of its Messaging application for smartphones Pinch, in India as well as globally. Plans of the application launch were first reported by Telecom Yatra.
Pinch is meant to combine messenger and location based services. Smartphone users will be able to interact with friends using animations, pictures, emoticons and push notifications. Pinch will also enable users to send data messages across platforms without incurring any SMS/MMS charges. Further, the app supports animations across platforms, and offers over 475 emoticons.
Pinch also offers contact and group management services by helping people discover friends through contacts on their phone, Facebook, Twitter, BlackBerry, Android and email. It allows selective sharing of location and enables users to locate and chat with friends nearby.
The application works on various platforms including iPhone 2G, 3G, 3GS, iPhone 4G (iOS4), iPod Touch, Android 2.x, BlackBerry 4.x and Symbian, and will be available for approximately Rs 45.
Pinch integrates social leaderboard contests within the core messaging platform and rewards people based on over 30 different fun actions. For the current promotion, Affle has announced one free iPad every month and 25 iTunes gift cards every week for the next one year to winners of the Pinch leaderboard contests.