As you might have heard, text messaging apps have surpassed SMS messaging for the first time ever, according to a new research. Research Firm Informa, in partnership with The Financial Times, has revealed 19 billion messages were sent each day in 2012 via text messaging apps as compared to 17.6 billion SMS text messages. This data highlights the huge user base growth we have seen recently in text messaging apps with WhatsApp and Viber topping the charts.
SMS is now the past and text messaging apps that use Data or Wifi to work are the future. If you are new to text messaging we have gathered a list of chat messaging apps that are really very good to use and most probably your friends are also using them because of their availability on all of the major Mobile Platforms.
Whatsapp is one of the best text messaging application that is currently available on all of the platforms. The application is very simple and to the point. You can send text messages, share you pictures, sounds, locations with your friends. A few months ago WhatsApp released the group messaging feature that enables you to talk to your friends in groups.
The best thing about this application is that it is very easy to set it up. Just enter your Mobile Number, get it verified and start using the application right away. No need of getting into the trouble of entering your personal details and email addresses to get it work.
When you send a text message to friend you get notified about the message is sent and then when the message is delivered to your friend. This feature is my favorite 🙂
On the Dark Side:
-There is no log out or staying invisible mechanism in this Application. So you can’t avoid anybody except blocking them.
-Your Identity on WhatsApp is your Phone Number so whoever has your Phone Number can add you easily in their WhatsApp making your presence a bit less private.
Price: Free
Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Symbian, BlackBerry
Kik Messenger
Kik messenger is a fun, fast, simple and personal tool to get you connected to anyone you want to talk to. Just like WhatsApp- Kik messenger is also famous for text messaging. But other than that there are other features too that can take your texting experience to the next level. For example you can share your pictures, location, sounds, games scores etc.
In WhatsApp your Phone Number is your identity that gives you a bit less control over your privacy but in Kik Messenger you have a unique username that you can only share with the ones you want to talk to. But then again for that Unique username there is a form filling process that you have to go through before using the application. I am not a big fan of Sign Up forms I prefer signing up with my Social Media Accounts but that features in missing in Kik Messenger.
The notification mechanism of Kik Messenger is pretty much awesome, you get notified about when the message is sent, delivered and seen! So you can figure out easily who is avoiding you 😀
Price: Free
Platforms: iOS, Windows Phone, Android, BlackBerry, Symbian
Viber
Viber is also a call and text message application that is most famous for making Phone calls, viber has replaced the traditional phone calling with its free HD phone calling features that makes it absolutely easier to connect with the people anywhere in the world.
Now you don’t need to spend a lot of bucks to call your friends out of Country because if your friends have Viber you can call them for free. Apart from calling you can text message your friends and get notifications when the message is delivered.
Viber uses the same mechanism that WhatsApp uses i-e it screens the contacts from your address book to get them on Viber. Viber is also available in almost all of the famous platforms but it doesn’t offer the same features in all of them. This somewhat defeats the purpose of a cross platform app either you have all features or none.
Price: Free
Platforms: iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone
Facebook Messenger
Facebook Messenger is the new Fancy App in Town, If you are really hooked to Facebook then this application is a must for you. Basically this messenger application is an extension of existing chat feature of Facebook. This application lets you send messages to your Facebook contacts directly from the messenger and without going through the fuss of opening Facebook first and then the chat feature.
Facebook Messenger also comes with an option to integrate your SMS inbox with Messenger so that all of the incoming text messages also arrives in this app and you can reply to them straight away. Recently, Facebook announced their Home Launcher (that was a big disaster) and a new feature called Chat Heads for the Messenger app. With the new update you can chat with your friends while using other apps.
That’s a really good features and seems like other messaging updates would also be rolling out feature like this to stay in the competition.
Price: Free
Platform: iOS, Android, Windows (desktop)
GroupME
GroupME is a beautiful, sleek application that lets user engage in group messaging. You can use people in your contacts to broadcast the messages, with the advent of Group Messaging feature in other chat applications this application has become a bit less relevant. Why download a separate application for group messaging when you can do that in other text Messaging applications already. Nevertheless, you can still download this app for group messaging because this apps lets you group message with those who didn’t have this app on their phone. Ins’t it cool!
What I love about the app is its smooth and clean interface and its availability on almost all mobile platforms.
Price: Free
Platform: Windows Phone, iOS, Android, BlackBerry
BlackBerry Messenger
There was a time when Blackberry Phones were considered the best Smart Phones in the world but now those times have gone, but still some people who don’t like change are still stuck with these devices. 🙂
I know a lot of people in my circle who prefer BlackBerry devices just because of the BlackBerry Messenger! In BBM world, your identity is your unique pin; you can share your pin with your friends to get them on board and have a chat with them. But then again BBM messenger is a pure RIM application it isn’t available for other platforms! But I have to agree that BBM is the Face of RIM, and because of this application RIM has got a lot of loyal customers.
Price: Free
Platform: Blackberry
