Articulatory speech recognition means the recovery of speech (in forms of phonemes, syllables or words) from acoustic signals with the help of articulatory modeling or an extra input of articulatory movement data. Speech recognition (or automatic speech recognition, acoustic speech recognition) means the recovery of speech from acoustics (sound wave) only. Articulatory information is extremely helpful when the acoustic input is in low quality, perhaps because of noise or missing data. Measurable information from the articulatory system (e.g. tongue, jaw movements) can supplement acoustic signals to improve phone recognition accuracy by 2%. However, attempts to estimate articulatory data from acoustic signals alone have not significantly enhanced recognition performance.
Local-first software
Local-first software is a software engineering approach in which an application stores its data primarily on the user's own device rather than on remote servers. Users can read and write data without an Internet connection, and changes are synchronized across devices in the background when connectivity is available. The approach differs from conventional cloud-based applications, where the server holds the authoritative copy of user data and the client acts as a thin client. The term was coined in a 2019 paper published by researchers at Ink & Switch, an independent research lab, and presented at the Onward! conference at ACM SIGPLAN. The paper, sometimes referred to as a manifesto, was authored by Martin Kleppmann, Adam Wiggins, Peter van Hardenberg, and Mark McGranaghan. == Background == Before the widespread adoption of Internet-connected software in the 2000s, most desktop applications stored data as files on the user's local disk. Users had direct access to their files and could copy, back up, or delete them at will. The rise of software as a service (SaaS) and cloud-based applications like Google Docs shifted data storage to centralized servers. While cloud applications made real-time collaboration across devices straightforward, they introduced a dependency on the service provider: if the provider discontinued the service or experienced an outage, users could lose access to their data. A related concept, "offline-first," emerged in the early 2010s and focused on making web applications resilient to network interruptions. The local-first approach built on these earlier efforts while placing greater emphasis on long-term data ownership and end-to-end encryption. == Origins == === Ink & Switch manifesto === Ink & Switch is an industrial research lab co-founded by Adam Wiggins, who had earlier co-founded Heroku. Martin Kleppmann, an associate professor in the Department of Computer Science and Technology at the University of Cambridge, was a co-author of the 2019 paper. The manifesto proposed seven "ideals" for local-first software: Fast — Operations respond without network round-trips. Multi-device — Data synchronizes across a user's devices. Offline — Users can read and write data without a network connection. Collaboration — Multiple users can work on the same data concurrently. Longevity — Data remains accessible even if the software vendor ceases operation. Privacy — End-to-end encryption protects user data. User control — The vendor cannot restrict how users access or use their data. The paper surveyed existing approaches to data storage and collaboration — ranging from email attachments and Dropbox-style file synchronization to web applications and mobile backends — and argued that none of them satisfied all seven ideals simultaneously. === Role of CRDTs === The manifesto identified conflict-free replicated data types (CRDTs) as a promising technical foundation for local-first applications. CRDTs are data structures that allow multiple replicas to be edited independently and then merged without conflicts, a property first formalized in research by Marc Shapiro and colleagues around 2011. Kleppmann and collaborators at Ink & Switch developed Automerge, an open-source CRDT library for JSON documents, to make these algorithms available to application developers. == Adoption and community == Developer interest in the local-first approach grew after the 2019 paper spread on Hacker News and at developer conferences In August 2023, Wired published a feature article on the movement, describing it as an effort to reduce reliance on large cloud providers. The first Local-First Conf took place on 30 May 2024 in Berlin, with talks by Kleppmann and developers from companies including Linear and Anytype. The community has continued to expand, with regular "LoFi" meetups, a podcast (localfirst.fm), and a third edition of the conference planned for Berlin in July 2026. == Criticisms and limitations == Developers and commentators have pointed out practical difficulties with the local-first approach. Synchronizing data between multiple devices that may be offline for extended periods introduces complexity that cloud-based architectures avoid. Conflict resolution, even with CRDTs, can produce results that are technically consistent but semantically unexpected to users. Schema migrations across thousands of client devices running different application versions pose another difficulty that does not arise with server-side databases. Web browsers impose storage limits and may evict locally stored data. Safari, for instance, has been reported to clear IndexedDB data after seven days of inactivity on a given site, which undermines the assumption that local data is persistent. There is also disagreement within the local-first community about whether a fully decentralized architecture is required. The original manifesto described decentralization as the "logical end goal," but a number of products that identify as local-first still depend on centralized servers for authentication, backup, or synchronization. In a talk at Local-First Conf 2024, Kleppmann said the seven ideals are better understood as a "gradient" rather than a strict checklist.
Payment tokenization
Payment tokenization is a data security process that replaces sensitive payment information, such as credit card numbers, with a unique identifier or "token." This token can be used in place of actual data during transactions but has no exploitable value if breached, thereby reducing the risk of data theft and fraud. == Overview == Payment tokenization is generally categorized into two types: security tokens and payment tokens. Security tokens, also known as post-authorization tokens, are used to replace sensitive information like Primary Account Numbers (PANs), such as credit card numbers either after a payment is authorized or for storing data securely (data-at-rest), such as in merchant databases. These models have been in use since the mid-2000s, following the introduction of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard in 2004, which established standards for safeguarding cardholder data. The Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council's 2011 Tokenization Guidelines and the proposed American National Standards Institute X9 standards emphasize using tokens primarily to secure sensitive information, not as replacements for payment credentials processed over financial networks. Traditionally, merchants stored PANs to support backend operations such as settlements, reconciliations, chargebacks, loyalty programs, and customer service. However, with the adoption of security tokenization, merchants can substitute PANs with tokens in their systems. This not only reduces their exposure to fraud but also helps minimize the scope and cost of PCI-DSS compliance, offering a more secure and efficient way to manage cardholder data. == Applications == Payment tokenization is widely used by mobile wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay use tokenization to safely store card data on devices. E-commerce platforms rely on it to securely retain customer payment details for recurring purchases. At the physical point of sale, EMV-enabled systems use tokenization to protect card information during in-store transactions. Also, subscription billing services implement tokenization to manage and safeguard payment credentials for ongoing charges.
NATGRID
The National Intelligence Grid or NATGRID is an integrated intelligence master database structure for counter-terrorism purposes which connects databases of various core security agencies under the Government of India. It collects and analyses comprehensive patterns procured from 21 different organizations that can be readily accessed by security agencies round the clock. As of September 2025 its CEO is Hirdesh Kumar. NATGRID came into existence after the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The Government of India in July 2016 appointed Ashok Patnaik as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NATGRID. The appointment is being seen as the government's effort to revive the project. Patnaik's appointment was valid till 31 December 2018. As of 2019, NATGRID is headed by an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Ashish Gupta. The Ministry of Home Affairs on 5 February 2020 announced in Parliament that Project NATGRID with all its required physical infrastructures been completed as of 31 March 2020 and the NATGRID solution went live as of 31 December 2020. == Reason for establishment == The landscape of Terrorism in India and the subsequent response by Law enforcement in India have necessitated a sophisticated data-integration framework, positioning NATGRID as a vital tool for national security agencies. This shift towards Mass surveillance in India is rooted in a broader policy evolution of state monitoring, which is technologically enabled by the India Stack—the foundational digital infrastructure providing the API-based backbone for government service delivery and identity verification. This ecosystem is further bolstered by advanced Signal intelligence capabilities and the implementation of SIM binding, a security protocol that anchors a user’s digital identity to a specific mobile device and verified SIM card to prevent identity fraud and unauthorized access. Collectively, these elements form a 360-degree surveillance and authentication grid designed to preemptively identify threats by synthesizing historical, financial, and real-time communication data across disparate platforms. === Terror attacks in India === The 2008 Mumbai attacks led to the exposure of several weaknesses in India's intelligence gathering and action networks. NATGRID is part of the radical overhaul of the security and intelligence apparatuses of India that was mooted by the then Home Minister P. Chidambaram in 2009. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) are two organisations established in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks of 2008. Before the Mumbai attacks, a Pakistani origin American Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative David Coleman Headley had visited India several times and done a recce of the places that came under attack on 26/11. Despite having travelled to India several times and having returned to the US through Pakistan or West Asia, his trips failed to raise the suspicion of Indian agencies as they lacked a system that could reveal a pattern in his unusual travel itineraries and trips to the country. It was argued that if they had a system like the NATGRID in place, Headley would have been apprehended well before the attacks. === Need for the integrated intelligence system === During the inauguration of NATGRID campus in Bengaluru, the Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah stated that a new national database is in the process of being made which will bring a change in the current ways of functioning of agencies once it's ready also adding that the government has entrusted the task of developing and operating a state-of-the-art and innovative technology system. It is accessible to 11 central agencies in the first phase and in later phases will be made accessible to police of all States and Union Territories and only authorized personnel are allowed access to the platform on a case-to-case basis for investigations into suspected cases of terrorism. NATGRID has a total fund allocation of ₹3,400 crore (US$355 million). d == Legal framework == Relevant legal framework: Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 – The legislative framework governing how digital data is handled. Information Technology Act - Interception Rules, 2002 – The specific regulations under the Information Technology Act that govern these agencies. National Security Act of 1980, evidence-based preventative detention of suspects Right to Information Act, 2005, for obtaining information from the government and used by activists and whistleblowers == Structure and functions == === Multi-agency integrated intelligence database === NATGRID is an intelligence sharing network that collates data from the standalone databases of the various agencies and ministries of the Indian government. It is a counter terrorism measure that collects and collates a host of information from government databases including tax and bank account details, credit/debit card transactions, visa and immigration records and itineraries of rail and air travel. It also has access to the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems, a database that links crime information, including First Information Reports, across 14,000 police stations in India. This combined data will be made available to 11 central agencies, which are: the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), Intelligence Bureau (IB), National Investigation Agency (NIA), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Financial Intelligence Unit (India) (FIU), Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Directorate General of GST Intelligence. Also as stated by the MHA, NATGRID will have an in-built mechanism for continuous upgradation. In the later phases of NATGRID integration, the central government further plans to integrate 950 additional organizations into it. === Key components and users === ==== Some important backend data feeds to the NATGRID (middleware) ==== National Crime Records Bureau's Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) national-integrated law-and-order database for the state-level police forces: CCTNS is a mission-mode project under the National e-Governance Plan that interconnects over 15,000 police stations across India. It serves as the primary source for NATGRID to access digitized FIR (First Information Report) data and criminal history records from state-level law enforcement. NSA's National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) national security-based database feed to NATGRID: NTRO serves as a primary technical data provider to NATGRID, offering specialized intercepts and satellite imagery. While NATGRID functions as a centralized data-integration middleware under the Ministry of Home Affairs, NTRO reports to the National Security Advisor within the Prime Minister's Office. DRDO's NETRA (Network Traffic Analysis) ELINT-based mass surveillance system for monitor internal internet traffic for keywords related to terrorism and criminal activity within Indian borders: Developed by the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR), NETRA is an internet monitoring system capable of scanning traffic for specific trigger words. It provides digital behavioral triggers that NATGRID can cross-reference against structural data like financial or travel records. NETRA is a massive software network used to intercept and analyze internet traffic (emails, social media, blogs) for keywords like "bomb," "attack," or "kill." The intelligence gathered by NETRA regarding suspicious digital patterns or "keyword hits" can be fed into NATGRID. This allows an investigator to see if a person flagged by NETRA also has suspicious travel (from airline databases) or financial records (from bank databases) linked within NATGRID. Department of Telecommunications (DoT's Central Monitoring System (CMS) for lawfully intercepting national and international telecomm data: CMS is the centralized system for lawful interception of all telecommunications (phone calls, SMS, and data) in India, managed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). While CMS focuses on the content and metadata of real-time communication, NATGRID focuses on historical/structural data (tax, travel, identity). They represent two halves of a 360-degree surveillance profile: CMS listens to what a suspect says, while NATGRID tracks where they go and what they own. The CMS allows for the lawful interception of telecommunications metadata and content in real-time. In the broader surveillance architecture, CMS provides the "active" communication profile while NATGRID provides the "static" historical profile. Telecom Enforcement Resource and Monitoring (TERM) - Telecomm Regulatory & Verification Node for telecomm KYC: TERM cells verify subscriber identity (KYC) and maintain the integrity of telecom databases. NATGRID relies on these audited records to ensure the accuracy of telephone-to-identity mapping. TERM
Codebook
A codebook is a type of document used for gathering and storing cryptography codes. Originally, codebooks were often literally books, but today "codebook" is a byword for the complete record of a series of codes, regardless of physical format. == Cryptography == In cryptography, a codebook is a document used for implementing a code. A codebook contains a lookup table for coding and decoding; each word or phrase has one or more strings which replace it. To decipher messages written in code, corresponding copies of the codebook must be available at either end. The distribution and physical security of codebooks presents a special difficulty in the use of codes compared to the secret information used in ciphers, the key, which is typically much shorter. The United States National Security Agency documents sometimes use codebook to refer to block ciphers; compare their use of combiner-type algorithm to refer to stream ciphers. Codebooks come in two forms, one-part or two-part: In one-part codes, the plaintext words and phrases and the corresponding code words are in the same alphabetical order. They are organized similar to a standard dictionary. Such codes are half the size of two-part codes but are more vulnerable since an attacker who recovers some code word meanings can often infer the meaning of nearby code words. One-part codes may be used simply to shorten messages for transmission or have their security enhanced with superencryption methods, such as adding a secret number to numeric code words. In two-part codes, one part is for converting plaintext to ciphertext, the other for the opposite purpose. They are usually organized similarly to a language translation dictionary, with plaintext words (in the first part) and ciphertext words (in the second part) presented like dictionary headwords. The earliest known use of a codebook system was by Gabriele de Lavinde in 1379 working for the Antipope Clement VII. Two-part codebooks go back as least as far as Antoine Rossignol in the 1800s. From the 15th century until the middle of the 19th century, nomenclators (named after nomenclator) were the most used cryptographic method. Codebooks with superencryption were the most used cryptographic method of World War I. The JN-25 code used in World War II used a codebook of 30,000 code groups superencrypted with 30,000 random additives. The book used in a book cipher or the book used in a running key cipher can be any book shared by sender and receiver and is different from a cryptographic codebook. == Social sciences == In social sciences, a codebook is a document containing a list of the codes used in a set of data to refer to variables and their values, for example locations, occupations, or clinical diagnoses. == Data compression == Codebooks were also used in 19th- and 20th-century commercial codes for the non-cryptographic purpose of data compression. Codebooks are used in relation to precoding and beamforming in mobile networks such as 5G and LTE. The usage is standardized by 3GPP, for example in the document TS 38.331, NR; Radio Resource Control (RRC); Protocol specification.
Paint.NET
Paint.NET (sometimes stylized as paint.net) is a freeware general-purpose raster graphics editor program for Microsoft Windows, developed with the .NET platform. Paint.NET was originally created by Rick Brewster as a Washington State University student project, and has evolved from a simple replacement for the Microsoft Paint program into a program for editing mainly graphics, with support for plugins. == History == Paint.NET originated as a computer science senior design project by Rick Brewster during spring 2004 at Washington State University. Version 1.0 consisted of 36,000 lines of code and was written in four months. In contrast, version 3.35 has approximately 162,000 lines of code. The Paint.NET project continued over the summer and into the autumn 2004 semester for both the version 1.1 and 2.0 releases. Development continued with one programmer who worked on previous versions of Paint.NET while he was a student at WSU. As of May 2006 the program had been downloaded at least 2 million times, at a rate of about 180,000 per month. Initially, Paint.NET was released under a modified version of the MIT License, with the exclusion of the installer, text, and graphics. However, citing issues with the open source code being plagiarized by others that had rebranded the software as their own and bundled user content without their permission, the availability of the source code was restricted, in December 2007 Brewster announced his intent to restrict access to components of the program (including its installer, resources, and user interface). In November 2009, the software was made proprietary, restricting the sale or creation of derivative works of the software. Starting with version 4.0.18, Paint.NET is published in two editions: A classic edition remains freeware, similar to all other versions since 3.5. Another edition, however, is published to Microsoft Store under a trialware license and is available to purchase for US$14.99. According to the developer, this was done to enable the users to contribute to the development with more convenience, even though the old avenue of donation was not closed. In May 2026, Brewster revealed that he obtained the paint.net domain after attempting to do so for 22 years. Historically, the editor was hosted on getpaint.net, and according to Brewster, the previous owners of paint.net would not sell the domain and asked for "lots and lots of money". In December of the previous year, paint.net began hosting content that impersonated Paint.NET, therefore becoming a clear case of trademark infringement and domain squatting. Brewster stated that he was able to obtain the domain afterwards with the help of a lawyer. == Overview == Paint.NET is primarily programmed in the C# programming language. Its native image format, .PDN, is a compressed representation of the application's internal object format, which preserves layering and other information. == Plugins == Paint.NET supports plugins, which add image adjustments, effects, and support for additional file types. They can be programmed using any .NET Framework programming language, though they are most commonly written in C#. These are created by volunteer coders on the program's discussion board, the Paint.NET Forum. Though most are simply published via the discussion board, some have been included with a later release of the program. For instance, a DirectDraw Surface file type plugin, (originally by Dean Ashton) and an Ink Sketch and Soften Portrait effect (originally by David Issel) were added to Paint.NET in version 3.10. Hundreds of plugins have been produced; such as Shape3D, which renders a 2D drawing into a 3D shape. Some plugins expand on the functionality that comes with Paint.NET, such as Curves+ and Sharpen+, which extend the included tools Curves and Sharpen, respectively. Examples of file type plugins include an Animated Cursor and Icon plugin and an Adobe Photoshop file format plugin. Several of these plugins are based on existing open source software, such as a raw image format plugin that uses dcraw and a PNG optimization plugin that uses OptiPNG. == Forks == === paint-mono === Paint.NET was created exclusively for Windows and has no native support for other operating systems. Due to its former open-source licensing, the development of alternative versions was possible. In May 2007, Miguel de Icaza officially started a porting project called paint-mono. This project had partially ported Paint.NET 3.0 to Mono, an open-source implementation of the Common Language Infrastructure on which the .NET Framework is based. This allowed Paint.NET to be run on Mono-supported platforms, such as Linux. This port is no longer maintained and has not been updated since March 2009. Newer Mono runtime 6 versions are able to run original Paint.NET releases up to 3.5.11 with only minor issues. === Pinta === In 2010, developer Jonathan Pobst started a project called Pinta, describing it as a clone of Paint.NET for Mono and Gtk#. Pinta reused the adjustments and effects code from Paint.NET but otherwise is original code.
Hike Messenger
Hike Messenger, aka Hike Sticker Chat, is a multifunctional Indian social media and social networking service offering instant messaging (IM) and Voice over IP (VoIP) services that was launched on December 11, 2012, by Kavin Bharti Mittal. Hike functioned through SMS. The app registration used a standard, one-time password (OTP) based authentication process. It was estimated to be worth $1.4 billion and had more than 100 million registered users. It went defunct on January 6, 2021, as they were unable to compete with global messaging platforms. The app re-appeared on google play store and apple app store on 19 September 2025. == History == Hike Messenger was launched on December 12, 2012, by its founder, Kavin Bharti Mittal. The majority of users were from India, with 80% under the age of 25. The company purchased startups like TinyMogul and Hoppr in 2015. After buying US-based free voice calling company Zip Phones, Hike provided VoIP calling services. On March 5, 2015, Hike launched the 'Great Indian Sticker Challenge' to create more stickers. In February 2017, Hike acquired the social networking app Pulse. From version 5.0, it became the first social messaging app to start a mobile payment service in India. The timeline feature came back after multiple user requests and the introduction of a personalized digital envelope called Blue Packets for sending monetary gifts through a built-in wallet. In 2017, the acquisition of Bengaluru-based startup Creo was announced to enable third-party developers to build services on top of the Hike platform. In 2018, Hike provided 1 billion users with internet access by targeting smaller cities. In January 2019, the company discarded the previous super-app approach, and began launching specialized apps for specific use-cases. In May 2019, Hike announced a collaboration with Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi (IIIT-D) to develop a variety of machine learning models. In April 2019, the company launched its first standalone app, Hike Sticker Chat. A separate content app Hike News & Content was also launched. In 2021, Hike shut down its messaging service and shifted focus to gaming and community platforms. It launched Rush, a real-money gaming app featuring casual titles like ludo and carrom, which scaled to over 10 million users and generated more than US$500 million in gross revenue over four years. The company also introduced Vibe, an approval-only community app, as part of its pivot away from the super-app and messaging model. In September 2025, following the passage of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, which banned real-money gaming in India, Hike announced its complete closure. Founder Kavin Bharti Mittal stated that while the company had begun international expansion, scaling globally under the new regulatory regime would require a full reset that was not a viable use of capital or resources. On 19 September 2025, hike was relaunched on play store and app store by the name hike messenger. == Application == === Timeline of Features === On 15 April 2014, Hike introduced unlimited free SMS via a service called Hike Offline, through credits earned by users from regular chatting, as connectivity is still a major issue in many parts of India. In an attempt to appeal to its younger users, Hike introduced features that find resonance with the local market, such as Last Seen Privacy and localized sticker packs. It also introduced a two-way chat theme, allowing users to change the chat background for themselves and for their friends simultaneously. The app also started showing live Cricket scores in collaboration with Cricbuzz, as well as news, casual games, and social media feeds. Hike also added a file transfer service, allowing files less than 100MB of all formats, with a view on further increasing the size limit to 1 GB. With the launch of version 2.9.2.0 in January 2015, Hike implemented support for sending uncompressed images and a "quick upload" feature optimized for 2G speed. Later that month, Hike introduced a voice calling feature for its users. In September 2015, Hike launched free group call support with up to 100 people in a simultaneous conference call environment. In November 2016, Hike announced the launch of a feature called Stories that allows people to share real-life moments using fun live filters which automatically get deleted after 48 hours, and a new camera design with localized filters. Hike 4.0 launched on 26 August 2015 with the tagline 'Got a Gang? Get on Hike'. Hike 4.0 was an optimization-focused update, increasing the performance of the app on poor networks. It supported photo filters, doodles, and bite-sized news updates in under 100 characters. Hike launched News Feed with Hindi language support on 29 September 2015 to cater for the needs of the non-English population. Hike launched version 3.5 as the biggest update for Windows Phone 8.1 during December 2015 which changed the user interface for more simpler navigation, supported sending unlimited non-media files and documents of any format and better group admin settings. It also included ten brand new chat themes. Hike launched a microapp feature which was live for two days on 8 May 2016, as a Mother's Day special in which users could add images, quotes or messages as a token of love with customized e-cards and stickers on their timeline not only on Hike, but also on other platforms. On 26 October 2016, Hike Messenger rolled out the beta version of a video calling feature ahead of WhatsApp starting with the Android users which also lets recipients preview a video call before deciding to take it and is optimized to even work under 2G conditions. On 24 December 2016, Hike rolled out a short 20-second Video Stories feature that can be directly shared with friends or posted on a public timeline with different filters in collaboration with content creators with the same 48-hour time limit before being automatically deleted. The Stories feature continues to receive constant future updates to include and enable content, public story option, private user messaging and geo-tagging. In September 2017, Hike launched personalized sticker packs with 20,000+ graphical stickers for over 500 colleges that covered around 1,000 colleges by December 2018 across India which can be used across different geographies, and are highly customized for users with availability in 40+ local languages that support automatic sticker suggestions where the application suggests the best reply for any sticker message and also allows users to "nudge", a feature used to ping the receiver. Hike started supporting user comments on friend's posts, added a specific message reply function, a redesigned camera interface to support front flash and user mentions with the help of the @ symbol. In December, 2017, Hike launched group voting, bill splitting, checklists and event reminders for group chat that supports up to 1,000 users both on iOS and Android platform. Hike launched another feature called Hike Land, which is a virtual world with beta trial to start from March 2020, that will use Hike Moji where online users with their digital avatar can hang out with other users and will be built inside the Hike Sticker Chat application. It is mainly targeted but not restricted towards 16 to 21 years age group of people. Without unveiling much about Hike Land, a separate website has been created with option to reserve spots by giving details like name, gender and phone number that will link the user profile from the Hike Sticker Chat account though it is not a necessity. ==== Hike Direct ==== The Hike Direct feature is based on the technology known as WiFi Direct, which initially was also called WiFi P2P and got introduced to users by October 2015, which enables sharing of files such as music, apps, videos without a live internet connection within a 100-meter radius by creating a wireless network between two or more devices with a transfer speed of 100MB per minute. For privacy and security reasons, Hike didn't show the recipient's location or proximity and works only when two users are connected in the same room by adding one another into the contact list. ==== Hike Wallet ==== In June 2017, Hike announced the launch of version 5.0 with multiple new features like User Chat Themes, Night Mode and Magic Selfie. along with a built-in Wallet partnered with Yes Bank. This feature was first rolled out to Android users followed by iOS users at a later stage. Hike collaborated with Airtel Payment Bank to power its digital payment wallet by November 2017 where Hike users have access to Airtel Payments Bank's merchant & utility payment services and know your customer (KYC) infrastructure with 5 million transactions happening from services like recharge and P2P. Hike formed a partnership with Ola Cabs to bring a taxi and auto-rickshaw booking facility from 14 February 2018. With Hike Wallet facility users could now book bus tickets with 3