MXIT

INDUSTRY:  Instant messaging
FOUNDED: 2007
HEADQUARTERS: South Africa
KEY PEOPLE: Michael Jordaan[CEO]
PRODUCTS: Instant Messenger[Microsoft Windows, Windows Mobile, Mac OSX, Android, IOS, Java ME Linux, Blackberry OS


Mxit [ pronounced ''mix it''] is a free instant messaging application developed by Mxit [pty] ltd. In South Africa that runs on over 8000 devices, including feature phones, Android, BlackBerry, I-phone, I-pad, Windows phone and tablets.
According to a study by consultancy worldwide Worx, Mxithad 7.4 million monthly active subscribers in july 2013, of which 6,3 million are in South Africa.

Mxit originates from Stellenbosch, a University town in South Africa. In 1997, Herman Heunis established Swist Group Technologies and focused primarily on the mobiletelecommunications industry, developing software and providing system support to large Telco's, In 2000 Clockspeed Mobile, a research and development division of Swist Group Technologies, developed a Massive Multiplayer Mobile game named Alaya. The game was SMS based and was not successful due to the high cost of SMS since GPRS was still not widely implemented. In 2003, the game was reassessed an d the MXit concept was conceived by Herman thatsame year, MXit has evolved to become a major IM player in the South African arena thereafter. In April 2004, Clockspeed Mobile became independent and on 1 July 2006 became MXit Lifestyle (Pty) Ltd. In January 2007, media giant Naspers acquired a 30% stake in the company for an undisclosed amount. In 2013, competitor 2go overtook Mxit in terms of uses across Africa.
In September 201, Mxit was acquired by South African investment group, World of Avatar.
Following the abrupt resignation of then boss, Alan Knott-Craig Jr, Francois Swart received the nod from Mxit to become the new CEO (Mzekandaba, 2013).
Former CEO of First National Bank (FNB), Michael Jordaan was announced chairman of the Mxit board in September 2013.

Mxit operates in many international markets. Mxit is officially supported in Malaysia, Indian,Indonesia, United Kingdom, United States, Nigeria, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Portion, and Spain. In August 2007 Mxit commissioned their European Data Centre located in Frankfurt, Germany. The purpose ofthis server farm is to take over most of the international traffic from the South African servers. In September 2010, Mxit launched in Kenya, making it the first country outside of South Africa to have access to the full range of features.