Zalo
{{Infobox software
| title = Zalo
| name = Zalo
| logo = Icon of Zalo.svg
| logo caption =
| screenshot =
| screenshot size =
| logo size = 100px
| collapsible =
| author = Vương Quang Khải
| developer = {{hlist|Zalo Group|VNG Corporation}}
| released = {{Start date and age|2012|8|1}}
| discontinued =
| programming language =
| operating system = Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, web application
| platform =
| size =
| language = Vietnamese, English, Burmese
| language count = 3
| language footnote =
| genre = VoIP and instant messaging application software
| license =
| website = {{url|https://zalo.me/}}
}}{{Short description|Vietnamese instant messaging and social media service}}
Zalo is a Vietnamese instant messaging multi-platform service developed by VNG Corporation. Zalo is also used in other countries outside of Vietnam, including the United States, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Germany, Myanmar and Singapore.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sggp.org.vn/content/MjQwMjg0.html |title=Zalo hòa vào xu thế toàn cầu |author=Bá Tân |date=2013-05-06 |website=Sài Gòn Giải Phóng |access-date=2022-07-01 |language=vi}}
As of late September 2024, Zalo has approximately 77.6 million active monthly users with nearly 1.97 billion messages sent each day.{{Cite web|url=https://znews.vn/decision-lab-tiep-tuc-ghi-nhan-zalo-la-nen-tang-nhan-tin-pho-bien-nhat-post1508975.html|title=Zalo là nền tảng nhắn tin phổ biến nhất Việt Nam|date=2024-11-05|website=Znews.vn|lang=vi|access-date=2024-11-06}} Zalo is currently available in all 63 provinces of Vietnam, including islands, remote areas, and is accessible in more than 23 countries worldwide.
History
= Launch =
The name for Zalo is a blend of Zing (an online website managed by VNG) and alo (a standard phrase used to answer a call in Vietnam).{{Cite web|url=https://tuoitre.vn/co-tich-cong-nghe-viet-mang-ten-zalo-572006.htm|title="Cổ tích công nghệ" Việt mang tên Zalo|author=P.K.D|date=2013-10-01|website=Tuổi Trẻ|access-date=2022-06-29|language=vi}}
Zalo was created by Vương Quang Khải, the executive Vice President of VNG.{{cite web|url=https://cafef.vn/vuong-quang-khai-zalo-va-bi-quyet-leo-nui-ai-cua-chang-don-quixote-188240806172104211.chn|title=Vương Quang Khải Zalo và bí quyết 'leo núi AI' của 'chàng Don Quixote'|website=VCCorp.vn|lang=vi|access-date=2024-11-08}} After studying in the United States, he returned to Vietnam in 2007.{{Cite web|url=https://vneconomy.vn/ba-van-may-cua-chang-dong-ki-sot-cong-nghe.htm|title=Ba vận may của chàng "Đông-Ki-Sốt" công nghệ|author=Nguyên Long|date=2013-07-04|website=vneconmy.vn|lang=vi|access-date=2024-11-08}} Recently, he began to work primarily on Artificial Intelligence technology, developing Kiki, an AI based virtual assistant.
The first software test version of Zalo was released in August 2012, eight months after development began in late 2011. By September 2012, Zalo had released new versions on iOS, Android and the Nokia S40.{{Cite web|url=https://ictnews.vietnamnet.vn/khoi-nghiep/tran-chien-zalo-cua-vng-375655.html|title="Trận chiến" Zalo của VNG|date=2013-02-07|website=VietNamNet|access-date=2022-06-29|lang=vi}} However, Zalo received little recognition due to various user issues, including having to use Zing ID for login and utilizing web platforms for the mobile application.{{Cite web|url=https://dantri.com.vn/suc-manh-so/zalo-tu-giac-mo-lang-man-den-ngoi-vi-so-1-1364100693.htm|title=Zalo: Từ giấc mơ lãng mạn đến ngôi vị số 1|date=2013-03-19|website=:vi: Báo Dân Trí|lang=vi|access-date=2022-06-29}}
In December 2012, the official version for Zalo was released to the public. On 8 January 2013, Zalo reached the top spot on the App Store in Vietnam, passing their main competitor, WeChat.{{cite web|access-date=2022-06-29 |author=P.K.D |date=2013-10-02 |lang=vi |title=Lời "tuyên thệ" từ chức đồng loạt và bước ngoặt quyết định |url=https://tuoitre.vn/loi-tuyen-the-tu-chuc-dong-loat-va-buoc-ngoat-quyet-dinh-572118.htm |website=Tuổi Trẻ}}
In March 2013, Zalo reached the million-user milestone and continued to grow quickly, having over 2 million users only two months later, surpassing all international competitors, including Viber and Line.{{Cite web|url=https://vietnamnet.vn/cuoc-chien-ott-zalo-doi-dau-viber-va-line-i382580.html|title=Cuộc chiến OTT: Zalo đối đầu Viber và Line|website=VietNamNet|lang=vietnamese|access-date=2024-11-07}}
= Usage =
Zalo has continuously been adding new features, such as Short videos, enhanced privacy features{{Cite web |last=Hùng Anh |date=2023-05-21 |title=Một số mẹo giúp bảo vệ quyền riêng tư trên Zalo |trans-title=Some tips to help protect your privacy in Zalo |url=https://nhandan.vn/mot-so-meo-giup-bao-ve-quyen-rieng-tu-tren-zalo-post753839.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241209080309/https://nhandan.vn/mot-so-meo-giup-bao-ve-quyen-rieng-tu-tren-zalo-post753839.html |archive-date=2024-12-09 |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=Báo Nhân Dân điện tử |language=vi}} and other improvements to the software.
In 2021, Zalo launched the Zalo Connect feature to help citizens in COVID-19-affected areas connect together and support each other.{{Cite web|url=https://forbes.vn/zalo-connect-giup-nguoi-dan-vung-dich-tim-su-ho-tro-khan-cap-2/|title=Zalo Connect giúp người dân vùng dịch tìm sự hỗ trợ khẩn cấp|author=Giang Lê|date=2021-08-12|website=Forbes Vietnam|lang=vi|access-date=2024-11-08}}
In May 2022, Zalo added experimental E2EE that utilizes the Signal protocol.{{Cite web |last=Lê |first=Huyền Vân |date=2022-05-28 |title=Chia sẻ và hướng dẫn kích hoạt tính năng mã hoá đầu cuối (E2EE) trên Zalo |trans-title=How to enable end-to-end encryption (E2EE) in Zalo |url=https://tinhte.vn/thread/3523618 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240325115910/https://tinhte.vn/thread/chia-se-va-huong-dan-kich-hoat-tinh-nang-ma-hoa-dau-cuoi-e2ee-tren-zalo.3523618/ |archive-date=2024-03-25 |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=Tinh tế |language=vi}}{{Cite web |last=Zalo Help |title=Mã hóa đầu cuối: Nâng cấp bảo mật tin nhắn (bản thử nghiệm) |trans-title=End-to-end encryption: Enhanced messaging security (beta) |url=https://help.zalo.me/huong-dan/tinh-nang-co-ban/ma-hoa-dau-cuoi-nang-cap-bao-mat-tin-nhan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306174816/https://help.zalo.me/huong-dan/tinh-nang-co-ban/ma-hoa-dau-cuoi-nang-cap-bao-mat-tin-nhan/ |archive-date=2024-03-06 |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=Zalo Help |language=vi, en, zh, fr, ko, ja, my}} As of version 25.01.01, this feature is no longer available.{{Citation needed|reason=No news sites or app changelogs mentioned this. It can only be verified by downloading the app and logging in.|date=January 2025}}
Since 2022, Zalo began to introduce a series of artificial intelligence features, including eKYC in 2022; text-to-speech, voice-to-text, Zalo AI Avatar in 2023; voice dictation and zSticker AI in 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://cafef.vn/zalo-va-hanh-trinh-7-nam-nuoi-duong-nhan-su-cho-khat-vong-ai-188240620182342712.chn|title=Zalo và hành trình 7 năm nuôi dưỡng nhân sự cho khát vọng AI|date=2024-06-21|website=Cafef.vn|lang=vi|access-date=2024-11-08}}{{Cite web|url=https://nld.com.vn/cong-nghe/tao-anh-dai-dien-bang-ai-lai-gay-bao-tren-mang-xa-hoi-co-dang-lo-20231022152607135.htm|title=Tạo ảnh đại diện bằng Zalo AI lại gây "bão mạng", có gì đáng lo?|author=Ngọc Ánh|author2=Nguyễn Hải|author3=Lê Tỉnh|date=2023-10-22|website=:vi: Báo Người Lao Động|lang=vi|access-date=2024-01-19}}
Main features
- Free text messaging with emojis, images, videos and voicemail.
- Free phone calls (including video calls).
- Creating and replying to status messages.
- File sharing.
- Creating reminders.
- Adding friends (directly by phone number, finding people by phonebook or by scanning QR codes).
- Mobile payment by credit card via ZaloPay.
- Zalo is accessible by web browser and by opening an application on supported devices.
Records
- In February 2013, Zalo was regarded as "one of the most innovative mobile applications" by international technology news website Tech in Asia.{{Cite web|url=https://vietnamnet.vn/zalo-lot-top-ung-dung-di-dong-sang-tao-nhat-chau-a-i376119.html|title=Zalo lọt Top ứng dụng di động sáng tạo nhất châu Á|website=VietNamNet|lang=vietnamese|access-date=2024-11-08}}
- In April 2013, Zalo won the 2013 Sao Khue Award – an award presented by the Vietnam Software Association (VINASA) to recognize outstanding technological and scientific advancements of Vietnam.{{Cite web|url=https://www.anninhthudo.vn/ung-dung-nhan-tin-mien-phi-zalo-doat-giai-thuong-sao-khue-2013-post167335.antd|title=Ứng dụng nhắn tin miễn phí Zalo đoạt giải thưởng Sao Khuê 2013|author=Lê Hải Hương|date=2013-04-23|website=Báo Điện tử An ninh Thủ đô|access-date=2022-06-29|lang=vi}}
- In March 2014, Zalo reached 10 million users with 120 million messages sent per day, dominating 50% of the smartphone market in Vietnam.{{Cite web |date=2014-03-20 |title=Zalo đạt mốc 10 triệu người dùng |url=https://tienphong.vn/zalo-dat-moc-10-trieu-nguoi-dung-post679382.tpo |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=Tiền Phong |lang=vi}}
- In February 2016, Zalo grew fastly with 45 million users, having a total of 1 million new users per month.{{Cite web |date=2016-02-25 |title=Zalo công bố đạt 45 triệu người dùng |url=https://tuoitre.vn/nhip-song-so/zalo-cong-bo-dat-45-trieu-nguoi-dung-1056985.htm |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=Tuổi Trẻ |lang=vi}}
- In February 2017, Zalo reached 70 million users, approximately 75% of the population of Vietnam.{{Cite web |date=2017-02-22 |title=Zalo cán mốc 70 triệu người dùng |url=https://vtv.vn/cong-nghe/zalo-can-moc-70-trieu-nguoi-dung-20170222183459246.htm |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=:vi: VTV (báo) |lang=vi}}
- In January 2019, at an event hosted by the Ministry of Information and Communications, former Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc asserted the neccessity of Zalo in the lives of Vietnamese people, stating "Where there are Vietnamese people, there is Zalo".{{Cite web|url=https://vov.vn/cong-nghe/o-dau-co-nguoi-viet-o-do-co-zalo-865032.vov|title="Ở đâu có người Việt, ở đó có Zalo"|date=2019-01-15|website=VOV.VN|lang=vi|access-date=2024-11-08}}
- In mid-2020, Zalo became the top messaging and communication software in Vietnam in terms of both usage and popularity.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-05 |title=Zalo tiếp tục dẫn đầu các nền tảng nhắn tin tại Việt Nam |url=https://nhandan.vn/zalo-tiep-tuc-dan-dau-cac-nen-tang-nhan-tin-tai-viet-nam-post843177.html |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=Nhân Dân |lang=vi}}
- In 2021, the Zalo Connect feature was titled as a "Creative Vietnamese Technological Solution" at Tech Summit 2021, hosted by VnExpress.{{Cite web|url=https://baoquangninh.vn/12-san-pham-cong-nghe-sang-tao-tai-tech-awards-2021-3169804.html|title=12 sản phẩm công nghệ sáng tạo tại Tech Awards 2021|website=Báo Quảng Ninh điện tử|lang=vi|access-date=2024-11-08}}
- In March 2022, Global Brand Magazine awarded Zalo the Global Brand Award, rating it as the most used messaging app in Vietnam, above WeChat and WhatsApp.{{Cite web|url=https://nhandan.vn/thong-tin-so/global-brand-awards-danh-gia-zalo-la-ung-dung-nhan-tin-hang-dau-viet-nam-690991/|title=Global Brand Awards đánh giá Zalo là ứng dụng nhắn tin hàng đầu Việt Nam|author=Hùng Anh|date=2022-03-28|website=Nhân Dân|access-date=2022-06-29|lang=vi}}{{Cite web|url=https://thanhnien.vn/post-1442978.html|title=Zalo được vinh danh là app nhắn tin hàng đầu Việt Nam tại giải thưởng quốc tế|date=2022-03-28|author=Mai Lan|website=Thanh Niên|access-date=2022-06-29|lang=vi}}
- According to research by the Decision Lab in the fourth quarter of 2021, up to 48% of people surveyed used Zalo to communicate with friends and family, while Facebook and Messenger's statistics were 27% and 20% respectively.{{Cite web|url=https://www.decisionlab.co/blog/here-comes-zalo|title=Move over—here comes Zalo!|author=Thach Huynh|year=2022|website=Decision Lab|access-date=2022-07-01}}{{Cite web|url=https://ictnews.vietnamnet.vn/cuoc-song-so/zalo-la-ung-dung-lien-lac-hang-dau-cua-nguoi-viet-404694.html|title=Zalo là ứng dụng liên lạc hàng đầu của người Việt|author=Phương Dung|date=2022-02-17|website=VietNamNet|access-date=2022-07-01|lang=vi}}
Controversies
= Operating social media without a license =
In 2018, Zalo was found operating social media without a license, which resulted in a punishment. However, the authorities allowed the domains to remain active, giving VNG time to complete licensing documents, which they failed to do.{{Cite web |author=Hoàng Ngân |date=2019-07-29 |title=Giật mình gã khổng lồ Zalo hoạt động không phép |trans-title=Shocking: Zalo, the giant, is operating without permission |url=https://www.baogiaothong.vn/giat-minh-ga-khong-lo-zalo-hoat-dong-khong-phep-d428936.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326160704/https://www.baogiaothong.vn/d428936.html |archive-date=2023-03-26 |access-date=2022-06-30 |website=Báo Giao Thông |lang=vi}}
In July 2019, the Ho Chi Minh City branch of the Ministry of Information and Communications issued a document demanding parties responsible for registering and managing domain names revoke [https://zalo.vn Zalo.vn] and [https://zalo.me Zalo.me] by the 19th. The domains continued to function beyond that date. Afterwards, the Ministry of Information and Communications extended the submission deadline.
On 11 November 2019, the [https://zalo.vn Zalo.vn] domain was suspended for 45 days to allow authorities to investigate potential violations. Prior, VNG submitted an application for the license that did not meet the criteria for approval, resulting in the temporary suspension.{{Cite web |author=Thế Lâm |date=2019-11-15 |title=Đã nộp hồ sơ xin cấp phép, vì sao tên miền Zalo.vn vẫn bị ngừng hoạt động? |trans-title=Why was the Zalo.vn domain suspended despite the permit submission? |url=https://laodong.vn/kinh-te/da-nop-ho-so-xin-cap-phep-vi-sao-ten-mien-zalovn-van-bi-ngung-hoat-dong-765949.ldo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421150619/https://laodong.vn/kinh-te/da-nop-ho-so-xin-cap-phep-vi-sao-ten-mien-zalovn-van-bi-ngung-hoat-dong-765949.ldo |archive-date=2023-04-21 |access-date=2022-06-30 |website=Báo Lao Động |lang=vi}}
On 24 December 2019, Zalo was officially granted a social network license.{{Cite web |author=PV |date=2020-12-24 |title=Zalo chính thức được cấp giấy phép mạng xã hội |trans-title=Zalo has officially been granted a social media license |url=https://ictvietnam.vn/zalo-chinh-thuc-duoc-cap-giay-phep-mang-xa-hoi-29735.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241112211726/https://ictvietnam.vn/zalo-chinh-thuc-duoc-cap-giay-phep-mang-xa-hoi-29735.html |archive-date=2024-11-12 |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=Tạp chí điện tử Thông tin và Truyền thông |lang=vi}}
= Concerns regarding the Find Nearby feature =
The Find Nearby feature of the Zalo mobile app allows users to scan for nearby individuals.{{Cite web |last=Zalo Help |date=2025-01-25 |title=Hướng dẫn tính năng "Tìm quanh đây" trên Zalo |trans-title=Instructions for the "Find nearby" feature on Zalo |url=https://help.zalo.me/huong-dan/chuyen-muc/ban-be-va-danh-ba/them-ket-noi-cung-tinh-nang-tim-quanh-day-tren-zalo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306174807/https://help.zalo.me/huong-dan/chuyen-muc/ban-be-va-danh-ba/them-ket-noi-cung-tinh-nang-tim-quanh-day-tren-zalo/ |archive-date=2024-03-06 |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=Zalo Help |language=vi, en, zh, fr, ko, ja, my}} This feature was enabled by default, leading to strangers messaging users when location services are enabled, raising privacy concerns.{{Cite web|url=https://vov.vn/cong-nghe/tin-moi/su-dung-zalo-nguoi-dung-co-nguy-co-lo-thong-tin-ca-nhan-602319.vov|title=Sử dụng Zalo, người dùng có nguy cơ lộ thông tin cá nhân|author=Hải Nguyên|date=2017-03-13|website=VOV|access-date=2022-07-01|lang=vi}}
= Paywalls =
On 1 August 2022, Zalo began charging users, resulting in restricted access to certain features for those with free accounts.{{Cite web|url=https://thanhnien.vn/zalo-thu-phi-nguoi-dung-than-troi-vi-rac-roi-post1475322.html|title=Zalo thu phí, người dùng than trời vì rắc rối|author=Anh Quân|date=2022-07-06|website=Thanh Niên|access-date=2022-07-19|lang=vi}} Immediately after, Zalo saw an increase in 1-star ratings on the App Store and Google Play, along with boycotts and multiple threats to delete the application.{{Cite web|url=https://thanhnien.vn/post-1489736.html|title=Zalo rớt sao đánh giá trên bảng xếp hạng Android và iOS|date=2022-08-19|website=Báo Thanh Niên|access-date=2022-09-04|language=vi}}