Instant Messaging is the act of sending short messages to other people in a fast and practical way via messaging app. Instant Messaging is called IM as a short form.
Instant Messaging History
Instant Messaging is mainly related to the internet. Even before the internet, there were some instant messaging services and apps there were very limited for features, service level, and user base. There were instant messaging apps named talk, ntalk, ytalk and IRC.
Modern, internet-wide, GUI-based instant messaging clients are emerged in the mid-1990’s. The first instant messaging apps were very feature-full and provide good options to users. The first popular instant messaging apps were PowWow, ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger. As you can see all of them lost their popularity in today’s internet.
Instant Message Types and Languages
Instant Messaging apps can send and receive different types of messages. Messages types express the message, mood, body language of the human in different ways.
Text Message is the most popular basic type where the user write down sentences for instant messaging.
Emoji is very popular message type where some icons are small images are used to for different mood.
Gif is another popular message type where short video is shown like multiple images.
Image is a single picture which provide visual information.
Video is another popular type where the different sizes of the video can be sent via the instant messaging app.
Stream is similar to the video where real time camera capture can be shared with other users.
File and Folder can be shared with other users easily with IM applications.
Instant Messaging Applications
With the widespread usage of the internet with different technologies like Wi-Fi, ADSL, Metro Ethernet, GPRS, 3G, 4G, WiMax users can access the internet from everywhere. Instant messaging will work flawlessly with high-level internet accessibility. Also the invention of smartphones with advanced platforms like Android, iPhone, iOS helped instant message usage. Below we will list some popular instant messaging applications.
WhatsApp is the most popular IM used worldwide by billions of people.
WeChat is the Chinese alternative to the WhatsApp and has over 1 billion monthly active users.
Discord is another IM which is mainly designed for enterprise and team messaging and has 250 million users.
Facebook Messenger is the IM application of Facebook. It has 900 million active users. Facebook messenger works integrated with the Facebook which requires a facebook account to use.
Skype is owned by Microsoft and has 300 million monthly active users. Skype mainly used by company or individual users. Skype also can make phone calls.
Snapchat has 300 million monthly active users.
Telegram is secure IM applications. It is created more free and secure alternative to the WhatsApp. Telegram has 400 million monthly active users.
Viber has 260 million monthly active users.
eBuddy is a end user applications which can work with XMMS servers and developed as open source applications.
