Michal Ždanský Classic SMS is on the decline, not only thanks to iMessage, but also other chat services, which have been booming in recent years thanks to the popularity of smartphones, which have already outsold "dumb" phones. However, the text messages could not be denied - despite their high price, they always worked on all phones. Therefore, it will never completely disappear, because there is no standard that would completely replace the outdated system.
The modern smartphone has brought something that was also not common before - permanent access to the Internet. It is precisely because of this that IM services are growing rapidly, because they use a mobile Internet connection and allow sending any number of messages for free. However, for the system to work best, it needs to be available on as many platforms as possible. Although iMessage works great and is integrated right into the messaging app, it's only available on Apple platforms, so it's not possible to communicate with all your friends who have Android or Windows Phones. We have therefore selected five of the most versatile IM platforms with the largest number of users and also with great popularity in the Czech Republic:
With more than 300 million users, WhatsApp is the most popular push messaging application worldwide and is the most popular among similar applications in the Czech Republic as well. The great advantage of the application is that it links your profile with your phone number, thanks to which it can then identify WhatsApp users in the phone directory. So there is no need to check if your friends have the app installed or not.
In Whatsapp, in addition to messages, it is also possible to send images, videos, location on the map, contacts or audio recording. The service is available on all popular mobile platforms, from iOS to BlackBerry OS, however it is not possible to use it on a tablet, it is only intended for phones (not surprising given the connection with the phone number). The application is free, however, you pay one dollar per year for operation, the first year of use is free.
[app url=”https://itunes.apple.com/cz/app/whatsapp-messenger/id310633997?mt=8″]
Facebook Chat
Facebook is the most popular social network in the world with 1,15 billion active users and, in conjunction with Facebook Chat, is also the most popular IM platform. It is possible to chat through the Facebook application, Facebook Messenger or practically most multi-platform IM clients that provide a connection with Facebook, including the now almost dead ICQ. In addition, the company recently enabled calls through the application, which is also available in the Czech Republic. It thus competes, for example, with the popular Viber or Skype, although it does not yet support video calls.
In addition to text, you can also send photos, audio recordings or so-called Stickers, which are basically just overgrown emoticons. Facebook, like WhatsApp, is available on most platforms, including a web browser, and syncs conversations between devices without a problem.
[app url=”https://itunes.apple.com/cz/app/facebook-messenger/id454638411?mt=8″]
Hangouts
Google's legacy communications platform was introduced earlier this summer and combines Gtalk, Google Voice and the previous version of Hangouts into a single service. It works as a platform for instant messaging, VoIP and video calls, with up to fifteen people at once. Hangouts are available to everyone who has a Google account (Gmail alone has 425 million users), an active profile in Google+ is not a requirement.
Like Facebook, Hangouts offer both a mobile application and a web interface with mutual synchronization of messages. However, the number of platforms is limited. Currently, Hangouts are only available for Android and iOS, however third-party apps connected to Gtalk can be used on Windows Phone.
[app url=”https://itunes.apple.com/cz/app/hangouts/id643496868?mt=8″]
Skype or Whatsapp
The most popular VoIP service currently owned by Microsoft, in addition to audio and video calls, also offers a very decent chat platform that can be used for both IM and file sending. Skype currently has around 700 million active users, making it one of the most widely used IM services in the world.
Skype has applications for almost all available platforms, on mobile platforms from iOS to Symbian, on the desktop from OS X to Linux. You can even find it on Playstation and Xbox. The service is available for free (with ads on the desktop) or in a paid version, which allows, for example, conference calls. What's more, it also enables the purchase of credit, for which you can call any phone at a lower price than the operators offer you.
[app url=”https://itunes.apple.com/cz/app/skype-for-iphone/id304878510?mt=8″]
Viber
Like Skype, Viber is not primarily used for chatting, but for VoIP calls. However, thanks to its popularity (over 200 million users), it is also an ideal platform for writing messages with friends. Just like WhatsApp links your account to your phone number, you can easily find your friends in the phone book who use the service.
In addition to text, images and videos can also be sent through the service, and Viber is available on almost all current mobile platforms, as well as for Windows and newly for OS X. Like all four mentioned above, it includes Czech localization.
[app url=”https://itunes.apple.com/cz/app/viber/id382617920?mt=8″]
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Vote in our poll for the service you use:
Viber has been in Czech for a long time :)
Just to be Whatsapp for Mac/PC
Well, I guess I don't really understand what makes Whatsapp better or worse than Vibr? When it doesn't have a voice and doesn't even support MacOS and Win.
For example, in my area, many more people use it, both Viber and maybe because of that.
I'm not saying that Whatsapp is better, but somehow I got used to it and a lot of people around me use it. In addition, I would like the same functionality as Viber - PC/Mac support, hopefully we will see it soon.
I dare to doubt the support of devices other than phones. At least now, it's a bit against WhatsApp's philosophy. (ID is a phone number and that's it)
WhatsApp is paid by users ($1/year, first year free), authors are against ads.
Viber is free, but it doesn't even contain ads. The question arises, what does he earn? No one will tell me that they do it purely out of enthusiasm.
Did I miss it or is there a mistake in the article? does viber support video calling?
Can't video call
Viber has been in Czech for a long time, the author should check the facts before writing the article!
That's right, Viber has been in Czech since version 3.
I based the information on Wikipedia, since I don't use the application myself.
:) so it's a shame to start from an unverified source and even more so from Wikepedia where anyone can write what they want.
Skype is a bit overrated in the text.. I tried it on the nexus 7, horrible!
I would just like to add that Hangouts runs on Android without a G+ account, but you can't send pictures. On iOS, Hangouts only works with a created G+ account, otherwise you won't log in, I think the same about the web interface, logging in takes place via the G+ page. Therefore, if me, you are not interested in G+, you will only use Hangouts on Android and without the possibility of sending pictures (but pictures will come from other users)
I use KIK Messenger. Excellent program.
I miss IM+ or Fring in the list, although they are something like integrators of IM services of different types and genders, :) but the possibility of having FB, Twitter, Skype, AOL, Message, ICQ and others under one roof is quite nice.
It occurs to me that why use a separate Skype or FB program when an integrator can connect it to me and I don't care which of my friends uses what. I just send him a message and that's it. :) And multiplatform. :)
In the article, I discuss multiplatform services, an overview of IM applications that handle multiple IM platforms, that's more of a topic for another article.
This item is missing - none :)