Top Seven Chat Apps

1.       WHATS APP

 

The most famous chat app developed by the yahoo! Veteran’s in 2009 is very easy to use instant messaging service which in recent time claims to surpass the twitter  It is free for its user for a year after activation except for iPhone users who has to pay a nominal cost of Rs.55 for its use.

The company claims to have more than 250 million active users with the service, which can be operated from almost every platform with Android, BlackBerry OS, BlackBerry 10, iOS, Series 40, Symbian and Windows Phone.

Its Major feature includes Text chat, Group chat,File sharing, Location sharing, itproves to be a most easy to use instant messaging service provider.

2.    SKYPE

This Microsoft’s Luxembourg based Voice over Service SKYPE was founded in 2003 but bought by Microsoft for $8.5 billion in 2011.It has more than 600 million registered users as on 2010.Basically, it’s used for video-calling with its instant messaging is used across various platform like Android, Blackberry, Windows phone, Linux, Symbian,Windows 8 and Mac OS X for text, group chat with file and screen sharing. The faster, lighter, pleasant and easy to use update for Android is launched hours ago.

3.    BBM

 

One among the oldest and most famous cross-platform Messenger service developed by Research In Motion which was an unprecedented of its kind for years and had been a trademark for the BlackBerry devices for years.BBM have estimated to have around 50 million users. With the decline in BlackBerry worldwide business, last month it made a promising decision to launch its BBM services for iOS and Android but Windows 8 operated phone users have to wait. With BlackBerry 10 OS, now BBM can be used to make video calls. Sharing screen enable the users to share their live actions during the call.

4.FACEBOOK MESSENGER

 

The popularity of the social networking giant FACEBOOK is undisputable and it added a further benchmark in 2011, with its instant messaging services for mobile phone and desktops.

With its further extension to “chat head”, the users can easily read and reply to the message while they are busy using other apps. Its estimated users is around 200 million with Android, iOS , BlackBerry, Windows phone, Windows 8, Mac OS X.

5.WE-CHAT

 

The first cross-platform messaging service which is being promoted by celebs in India. This Chinese developed text and message service was launched in 2011 which has a recent launch in India and have been a great hit with it some unique features like hold to talk voice messaging , Emotions ,Moments, Facebook Connect ,Video chat and many more entertaining aspects. With around 300 million users, WE-CHAT is now available on almost every platform with Android, BlackBerry OS, BlackBerry 10, iOS, Series 40, Symbian and Windows Phone and promises to be a good app which provide almost everything what is expected from a messaging service.

6. VIBER

 

Launched in 2010 for iPhone , this Cyprus based voice-over-Internet Protocol application became the biggest rival for Skype. It’s a simple instant messaging application with all services what its other competitors are providing for Mac OS, Android, BlackBerry OS, iOS, Series 40, Symbian,  Windows Phone, and Microsoft Windows. An important benchmark was its launch for Samsung’s BADA platform for its Wave Series phones which is still missing in many of its rivalsand is estimated to have around 90 million users covering around 30 different languages.Group messaging service and HD Voice engine were added to both Android and iPhone applications with covering over 200 million users.

7. LINE

 

With around 150 million user, this Japan based multiplatform instant messaging application which was developed aiming to help the locals during calamity.Feautureslike Bulletin boards, Sticker andNew Timeline and Home page features on iOS and Android,  gives a social networking experience .LINE is available for iOS, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and a recent launch for Nokia’s Asha OS. With its messaging service LINE is also up with LINE Camera,Card, Games and Brush which is an additional fun filled apps. It provides a free voice call feature for iPhone and Android.

CONCLUSION

With WE-CHAT being a rising star in Indian market with almost every service in almost every platform but the simplicity and ease of use of WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger cannot be ignored. BBM still remains to be a luxury way to connect !.Skype provided a way to connect across the world much earlier and remains a veteran in this area , with LINE giving some social networking features and even coming to Asha OS along with Viber connecting via BADA , a free messaging is not only available for smartphones but now could reach more or less every phone users.