Mobile messaging apps changed the way we communicate and connect. I’ve had my first mobile device since 1998 (a Motorola A130 with retractable antenna) enjoying the fun of text messaging and drop calling (if you can relate, raise the roof). My life with my first cellular phone has trapped with the sense that it’s alright to have this low-end gadget since during the late 90′s, only those who can afford postpaid lines from telco giant, Globe Telecom.
The circle of “text friends” were my classmates from high school (others already owned THE Nokia 5110; so envy they have the ‘Snake’ game). Of course, family elders are my primary contacts since mobile phones were very expensive that time considering they were mid- to low-range capabilities; my Motorola A130 has a 2-liner, dox matrix display, no phone book.
With the birth of smartphones, phone users are now into downloading applications to add varieties that maximize their usage of their devices. Mobile Internet is now possible and accessible having directly connected to the world wide web while on the go. From GPRS, 2G, 3G and now 4G/LTE, people are always connected to their favorite social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and more. Wi-Fi Internet connection is also available almost everywhere in the city.
To add more to what we can do today, we can even send text messages without dealing with the worries how many free text messages left on our load balance, or the dilemma of sending a message or making a call to a subscriber with the different provider (because doing so is costly). Now, we can even send text messages or even call friends abroad. In my case, I have friends from the United States, Japan, South Korea and Canada, whom I always have contact with.
My first mobile device that I considered a high-end “smartphone” is the Nokia 5800 ExpressMusic. But not until 2009, when I first owned an iPhone 4, the mobile experience is even way better for me in terms of applications and mobile messaging.
This is because of the fast emerging mobile messaging apps, smartphones can offer even wider and more comfortable way to stay connected with family members far and near, and also friends abroad and out of town. Aside from the mobile messaging application giants, like Yahoo! Messager and Skype, there are other applications you can use for the present time.
My 5 Most Commonly Used Mobile Messaging Apps
Having the iPhone 5 and a BlackBerry Curve 9320, I am into using five (5) mobile messaging apps that help me stay connected with my contacts anywhere, anytime, primarily through text messaging, and photo sharing with 3G and 4G/LTE mobile data connection.
Viber
Viber is a cross-platform instant messaging VOIP application first introduced to iOS devices last 2010. It was made available to Android users in 2011 but limited to 50,000 users. Full version for Android was released in 2012. Viber can also be installed to BlackBerry OS and Windows Phone of the same year, 2012.
Viber includes text, photo and video messaging depending to which platform it is installed. Calls are made available to chosen platforms using HD calling system.
Viber reached 200 million users as of May 7, 2013.
Download Viber on App Store or Google Play Store.
LINE
Aside from its instant messaging capability, LINE also offers photo, audio and video media messaging. Calls are also possible with LINE, an NHN Japan-conceptualized application. LINE can be installed to these following platforms: iOS, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and to Nokia Asha series devices.
The application was launched in 2011 with the primary purpose to let Tōhoku earthquake victims communicate easily via the Internet.
In July 2013, Line reached 200 million users.
Download LINE on Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
KakaoTalk
Launched on March 18, 2010, by Kakao Corp., KakaoTalk, the first ISO 27001 certified mobile messenger is made downloadable for iOS, Android, Bada OS, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, and PC. A Seoul, South Korea-based application, KakaoTalk (or commonly named, Kakao), offers text messaging, calling, group chatting, video, audio and voice, and photo sharing.
A counterpart of LINE in Japan, KakaoTalk has recorded an average of estimated 24 million users to be using the app on a daily basis and over 3.4 billion messages sent every day.
KakaoTalk reached the 100 million users mark in July 2013.
Download KakaoTalk on Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
A mobile messaging application developed in China through Tencent, WeChat was initially released in 2011. The app is available on Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, and Symbian platforms.
WeChat provides a multimedia communication system with text, hold-to-talk voice messaging, broadcast messaging, and photo/video sharing.
As of January 2013, it had 300 million in which 70 million users outside of China.
Download WeChat on Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Facebook Messenger
Facebook Messenger is a mobile messaging application that provides text and voice communication services. Integrated with Facebook’s web-based Chat feature, the Facebook Messenger enables users to chat with friends both mobile and on the main website.
Facebook Messenger for Mobile was released on August 9, 2011, for iOS and Android devices, with an update on October 11, making the application available for BlackBerry OS users.
By late November 2012, Facebook Messenger users reached 56.7 Million for iOS, Android, and BlackBerry OS.
Download Facebook Messenger on Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
There you go! Those are my Top 5 most commonly used mobile messaging apps. How about you? If you have different suggestions, please leave your messages in our comment box below.
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Happy mobile messaging!
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