10 most popular mobile messengers

Mobile apps like WhatsApp and Facebook have revolutionized the way people communicate around the world.

Nowadays, instant messengers are used more than ever. Due to the rapid growth in the number of smartphone users around the world, new applications are emerging to meet a wide variety of needs. They enable people from all over the world to instantly connect and share videos, music, photos, files and more. Most of the apps offer call and video call services. Although the list of available apps is growing rapidly, the most popular ones will be described here.

10. Telegram

In tenth place is Telegram, a non-profit cloud storage-based instant messaging application. The messenger works both on a smartphone and on a PC. Telegram can be used to transfer text messages, videos, stickers, pictures and files of all types, including audio. To enhance security, messages are end-to-end encrypted.

9. BlackBerry Messenger

BlackBerry Messenger is an application for video communication and correspondence installed in BlackBerry devices. It allows you to exchange voice messages for BlackBerry, Android, Windows and iOS users. As of 2017, the number of active users per month is 100 million.

8. LINE

The free LINE app is used for instant communication on laptops, tablets, smartphones, PCs and similar platforms. Through LINE, users can exchange pictures, text, audio and video. You can also freely conduct video conferences and conversations over the Internet. The messenger was launched in 2011 in Japan by the LINE corporation. As of 2017, LINE has 217 million monthly active users.

7. Viber

Viber was developed by the Israeli company Viber Media and later transferred to Rakuten by a Japanese multinational corporation. It is a platform for instant text and voice messages over IP, which has about a million monthly active users as of 2017. The messenger allows you to quickly correspond, exchange pictures, videos, files, etc. It was first launched on December 2, 2010 as an iPhone app competing with Skype. In 2012, the growing popularity led to the launch of versions for Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone.

6. Snapchat

Snapchat, invented by three Stanford University students and developed by Snap Inc., is a multimedia application for sending messages and pictures. It is the sixth most popular messenger with 300 million users every month. It differs from other similar services in that messages and pictures become inaccessible after a short period of time. The temporary nature of the messages encourages more lively communication.

5. Skype

Skype is another popular application providing such services as video calls, video conferencing, file sharing, pictures, etc. It was first launched in August 2003. Most of the services provided by the application, such as regular and video calls to another Skype user, are free. However, if you want to call a mobile phone or landline number, you need a paid subscription. For regular and video calls, a webcam and microphone are required.

4. WeChat

The original version of the app was invented by Xiaolong Zhang in China and named “Weixin”. It was part of a project launched in 2010 by the Tencent Guangzhou Research and Development Center. By 2012, the app had become very popular and had about 100 million users. It has been renamed WeChat as an appeal to the global community. By 2017, the app had become the 3rd most popular app with 846 million active users. WeChat offers a wide range of services, from text messaging, video conferencing, video sharing, pictures, online gaming, and mobile payments via digital wallet service.

3. QQ Mobile

The QQ mobile or Tencent QQ app was developed by the Chinese company Tencent Holdings Limited. The messenger offers a variety of services, from group voice chat to listening to music, microblogging and playing online games. Recorded 877 million monthly active users.

2. Facebook Messenger

Facebook Messenger is also a popular application developed in 2008 by Facebook and called Facebook Chat, and later received an update in 2010. It allows users to send messages, pictures, videos, audio, etc. Also, regular and video calls are available. By 2017, Facebook Messenger has over a billion active users.

1. WhatsApp

With over a billion monthly active users, WhatsApp is undoubtedly the most popular messaging app in the world. The free application is available on smartphones and uses the Internet and a standard cell phone number for regular and video calls, correspondence, transfer of pictures, videos, voice recordings, documents, etc. All communication through this cross-platform messenger is provided with end-to-end encryption. The app was originally released by the California-based company WhatsApp and then acquired by Facebook in February 2014 for an estimated $ 19.3 billion.