Communication between people has changed significantly with the advent of the mobile phone, and communication methods are rapidly evolving. It all started with emails and messages on social networks, and now 60% of smartphone owners use various instant messengers. More and more often there are dissatisfied cries about unwanted calls with calls to transfer communication to the messenger. This is not just a trend, but a new established way of communication.
At the end of May, Russian developers presented a new mobile messenger TamTam - in it, as in other similar applications, you can communicate with friends and subscribe to small thematic blogs and channels. We decided to review TamTam and understand what is interesting about it.
Who to communicate with
An important point is that after installing the application, you can find your friends and immediately write to them. Which is generally rare for new instant messengers or social networks. The thing is that TamTam was created on the basis of the OK Messages application - the audience of this messenger was inherited by the new application.
You can also find users in TamTam social network Classmates. If you have an account in OK and you logged into TamTam using it, then in the “Contacts” section you can find any person with a profile on this social network and write to him. Thus, by installing TamTam, you will stay in touch with your friends.
If you don’t have an account and you just logged in by phone number, then contacts from your phone book– there may be quite a few of them here too. For example, the author of this article found relatives, close people, and even old acquaintances living in the regions in the messenger. A good reason to write to friends or those with whom you have not spoken for a long time.
Of course, you shouldn’t expect that everyone you know is already here – the app is only a month old. How quickly they get here is in your hands. If you like to communicate in TamTam, invite friends using a special button in the “Contacts” section.
How to communicate
It has everything you are used to in instant messengers: you can send not only text messages, but also photographs, record video or audio, use emojis, gifs, stickers. You can even download a live broadcast directly into the application - for example, from the OK Live service. Insert a link in the chat to your live broadcast - and the interlocutor (or several interlocutors - if this is a group chat) will be able to open it right inside the messenger.
TamTam also has interesting animated stickers - the creators of the application call them “live”. These are stills from films, funny gifs with animals or children, and in general - everything that can illustrate an idea better than any words. To make it easier to choose a sticker, there is a search: open the sticker showcase, enter any word: even “thank you”, even “see you later” - the application will select the most suitable emotions for you.
TamTam is a new application that is actively being developed and improved, so, to be fair, it does not yet have all the possibilities for communication. However, soon the developers promise to even add the ability to make calls directly from the application - in audio or video format. They say that new functions will appear that will help diversify communication.
One of the main functions of the new application is thematic blogs, or channels. These are feeds of messages on a specific topic that you can subscribe to and receive regular updates from. Channels in TamTam appear in the same message list as main chats.
Channels in the messenger are already run by a variety of people: ordinary users who share interesting thoughts, videos and photographs; celebrities - for example, a popular journalist and TV presenter; major media, including . There are channels with news and legal advice, channels about gadgets and history, channels of bloggers and journalists. In general, in TamTam you can not only communicate, but also have something to read – and even watch: many authors post photographs and interesting videos.
Channels are not yet as popular a feature of messengers as correspondence or group chats. Still, we all choose one or another messenger primarily for its opportunities for communication. But the channels are interesting at least because thanks to them, the messenger is not just an application where you can write to a friend or send a photo to your mother. With channels here you can, for example, read the morning news or simply learn something new - without looking up from your correspondence.
In the next article we will tell you how channels are developing in modern Russian and foreign instant messengers and why they will soon become an integral part of our mobile communication with you.
Mobile applications have long replaced not only regular SMS messages, but also regular phone calls. Their popularity is growing every day, which means there are more and more users. With the help of them, people can communicate with family, friends, colleagues, partners, clients, etc. in online mode. By 2018, messengers will be used by more than 2 billion people. And this is already 80% of smartphone owners..
TOP 10 most popular instant messengers around the world
Now sending SMS messages is very expensive and therefore many people download and install applications called messengers on their smartphones. And in order to send SMS you only need the Internet, and now everyone has it. free access. That is why messengers are now very popular, and almost everyone has them installed. Here are the TOP 10 most popular instant messengers in the world:
Now more detailed information will be provided about each messenger.
1. WhatsApp
It is one of the most popular instant messengers in many countries. In 2016, the number of users exceeded 1 billion. This application was developed in the USA and released in January 2010. It is believed that because of this application, the revenue of mobile operators has decreased significantly, as people began to send all the necessary messages via the Internet for free.
2. Viber
Everyone has already heard about this application. Even though it appeared in December 2010, this did not affect its popularity in any way. In 2014, Viber took first place among short messaging programs in Russia. He has a very nice design, great amount free stickers. With it you can make and receive calls over the Internet.
Integrated with the messaging system on the main Facebook site. That is, if you are registered on this site, then in order to respond to someone’s message you do not need to turn on the computer and go to the site. Just download Messenger and you can reply to a message from your smartphone at any time. About 50 million people download this application every month. As of 2017, it is used by more than 1 billion users.
This application was created by developers from Japan and released in March 2011. This messenger available even for PC. As of 2014, about 400 million people used the messenger. All basic functions are supported. You can receive and make voice and video calls. Stickers and other features can be purchased for an additional fee.
5. WeChat
It is a Chinese development. Supports sending text and voice messages. You can send each other pictures, videos and other files. You can create a general chat with friends and colleagues. This application also has a built-in photo editor, automatic translation from leading languages, and much more.
6.Telegram
Today it is the most secure messenger. This project was launched by Pavel Durov in 2013. It was positioned as the most reliable communication application. About 200 people can communicate in a group chat. The application synchronizes with the number and therefore you do not need to register.
7. Skype
Despite the fact that it is one of the oldest messengers, it remains popular to this day. Skype was founded in 2003. You can make voice and video calls and, of course, send and receive text messages. The function of simultaneous translation of live speech has been introduced. 9 people can participate in group video calls simultaneously.
8. Snapchat
Very popular among young people. Any message, video or photo that is sent to another user will self-destruct after a certain period of time that you have specified. But this happens after the recipient reads the message. Also included in this application is graphics editor, which allows you to touch up an image before sending it to another person.
9. Kakaotalk
This is a very fast and versatile application. With it you can send and receive messages, photos, videos, as well as various voice recordings. Funny emoticons and stickers will help you communicate cheerfully and express your emotions. You can download and install it on your smartphone completely free of charge. The first version of this messenger was released on March 18, 2010. Today the application is available in 20 languages.
By using this application you can send text messages and make calls completely free of charge. Once installed on your smartphone or tablet, you will be able to make high-quality voice and video calls. You can also express your emotions using free stickers. You can easily find the message you need at any time.
That's all the messengers that are the most popular in the world today. And every year their popularity is only growing. And developers are trying to improve them to make it even easier for users to communicate with family, friends, and colleagues. Download, install messengers and stay in touch wherever you are.
Roskomnadzor spoke in the Tagansky Court of Moscow with a demand for the immediate blocking of Telegram in Russia. Representatives of the messenger were supposed to provide the FSB with keys to decode messages, but the Telegram administration stated that it was technically impossible to fulfill these requirements related to the dissemination of information. 13 In April 2018, one of the most popular instant messengers stopped working.
Other famous messengers
ICQ is the most popular and in-demand messenger of the late nineties - early two thousand. It's amazing how such an old messenger still attracts an audience. Thanks to regular large-scale updates and the introduction of new modern functions, ICQ does not lose its relevance. Here you have the option to make a video call, create a group chat and read groups. However, everything is still done somehow inconveniently.
2. Slack
A messenger that replaces email and Skype in work correspondence. For corporate Slack communication, you need to register your company with the specified number of users and field of activity. Later, you have the opportunity to choose the domain on which the company chats will be located. Invitations must be sent to all team members. Without them, it is impossible to log into your account. In addition, chats can be private. There is no Russian version.
3.Twitter
A social network that allows you to exchange messages publicly and for free. You can do this using the web interface, SMS (according to your operator), instant messaging tools. Publications in blog format are called “microblogging”. This messenger, created by Jack Dorsey in 2006, has gained worldwide popularity. More than half of users are on Twitter via mobile gadgets, and twitter.com has millions of unique visits per month.
4.TamTam
A messenger developed by Mail.ru with chats, groups and sending files. Pretty decent messenger, except for the accompanying ones unnecessary applications from Mail.ru. The downside is that it is linked to an Odnoklassniki account. This is a long-outdated social network whose users are older people. Actually, for this reason, TamTam is losing its relevance
5. VKontakte
One of the largest social networks in Europe. The site is available in more than 90 languages; especially popular among Russian-speaking users. Here you can send messages, create pages and communities, exchange photos, music, documents, and play games. In 2017, the average daily audience was more than 80 million visitors. Over 460 million registered users. Also in 2017, SimilarWeb recognized VKontakte as one of the most popular instant messengers in the world, where the social network was 7th in the ranking.
On May 16, 2017, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko signed a decree updating the list of sanctions against a number of Russian companies, including the social networks VKontakte and Odnoklassniki, the Yandex company, the electronic mail service Mail.ru and other services. Access to them was completely limited from June 1, 2017
The world is becoming more and more communicative and we can no longer imagine our lives without these invisible helpers in our everyday communication - messengers.
7th place - Snapchat
It is used by about 100 million users. You can use it to send photos, videos, and drawings to your contact list. But you cannot communicate simply with text, only “paired” with a visual image. Users set a time limit during which recipients can view their messages. The files are then "evaporated" from the sender's and recipient's devices, but are not deleted from Snapchat's servers.
Benefits of Snapchat
Fast work;
Front camera support.
Disadvantages of Snapchat
The color scheme and interface design are far from the concept of “adequacy”;
Incomplete Russian interface
6th place - Line
This much-loved chat room in Japan is used by 211 million people. Initially it was intended for mobile phones with Android and iOS OS, then a version appeared for BlackBerry, Nokia Asha and Windows Phone. There is a version of Line for computers running Windows and Mac OS. The highlight of the application is the built-in social network where you can blog and post comments.
AdvantagesLine
The application performs data transfer functions and can also be used as an interesting social network;
The program works on almost all mobile platforms;
Login to your account using a QR code;
User-friendly interface.
FlawsLine
English menu
5th place - Viber
Photo from pcpress.rs
This creation of Israeli developers is used by 249 million users. The PC app syncs your contact list, messages and call log with mobile device"host" and allows you to make free calls to any devices of other Viber users, regardless of the country of location.
AdvantagesViber
Incredible good quality communications (it is due to this that Skype fades into the background);
Opportunity to work in background, and does not drain the battery;
Integration with the phone book, thanks to which you can see who else is using this service;
Receive call notifications even if the application is not running;
sending images, SMS, location information, as well as making free calls between users of this service;
Calls to mobile and landline phones are provided;
FlawsViber
Not found
4th place - WeChat
Chinese mobile encrypted instant messaging service used by 600 million users. Between April and July 2015, the number of WeChat users grew by 37%, according to data from the program's developer, telecommunications company Tencent. The system supports voice and text messages, makes it possible to share photo and video files and exchange contacts via Bluetooth.
AdvantagesWeChat
Availability of a modern Russified interface in the program;
Provides unique opportunities for meeting people and exchanging likes;
Allows you to make audio and video calls;
Suitable for any mobile operating systems.
FlawsWeChat
Inability to set a ringtone for messages;
You cannot specify the status.
3rd place - Facebook Messenger
Photo from techspective.net
This application, based on the open MQTT protocol, is used by 700 million users. By comparison, Skype, the Internet telephony service run by Microsoft Corp., boasts only 300 million users. Was released in 2011 mobile version for the BlackBerry, iOS and Android platforms, and in 2012 a version of the messenger for PC appeared. In 2015, users of the service are no longer required to register with Facebook. In order to enter the application, you need to provide a phone number.
Benefits of Facebook Messenger
Synced well with Facebook: when you receive a message, you'll be taken to Messenger, but can also be taken back to your Facebook feed. But if all this were combined in one application, it would be much more convenient;
The stickers here are extremely varied. Actually, just exchanging these funny emojis can be done endlessly;
Minimalist functionality: it’s just a messenger, nothing extra.
Disadvantages of Facebook Messenger
Not found.
2nd place - WhatsApp
Photo from medium.com/@journey
Facebook Inc. paid $18 billion for cross-platform whatsapp app, whose audience currently numbers more than 800 million people. He has standard function messaging, as well as the ability to create groups and share video, photo and audio files. It is possible to quickly transmit audio messages. The program is linked to phone number, not the user's ID or nickname, and generates a list of contacts by scanning the owner's phone book for numbers registered in the system.
Benefits of WhatsApp
Cross-platform and easy to configure;
Contact list integration address book;
Possibility of organizing group chats and adding media files.
Disadvantages of WhatsApp
Lack of support for other existing platforms, such as Samsung Bada.
1st place - QQ Messenger
Photo from imqq.com
Most popular messenger in the world, developed by the Chinese Tencent. Every month, 843 million people exchange secure messages using it.
Benefits of QQ Messenger
Built-in software store;
Translation in real time;
Capture a small part of the chat screen or record small video clips and share them with the other person.
Disadvantages of QQ Messenger
If you have no friends in the Middle Kingdom, then you will have no one to communicate with.
Kazakhstanis have never even heard of some messengers on this list. The first place is occupied by Chinese, which is popular in few places except China. But it should be noted that WhatsApp and Viber are as popular in Kazakhstan as throughout the world. Let's add here Skype, which has lost popularity in the world, and Facebook messenger.
Private opinions
Alexey Bendz, director of corporate communications at Beeline Kazakhstan, believes that WhatsApp is the most popular in Kazakhstan, followed by Skype, Viber, M-Agent and Facebook Messenger.
"The most popular are instant messengers that support calls and video chats, in which you can create communities and groups. I, like most Kazakhstanis, chose WhatsApp. This messaging service has three advantages: first, the ability to create groups; second, support for calls and third - web version. For example, I can start communicating on a PC and continue the conversation on a smartphone,” says Alexey.
Olzhas Bibanov, head of public relations at Tele2 Kazakhstan, is confident that the reason for the popularity of WhatsApp lies on the surface. In his opinion, initially this messenger was positioned as a messaging application and gave O greater functionality than sms, mms and traditional email. Naturally, such online opportunities were not charged in any way and did not cost anything compared to roaming mobile operators.
“Viber positioned itself as an application for calls, and the Facebook messenger was born much later than WhatsApp - this explains why they are not as popular as WhatsApp, which together is much more functional than both applications,” Mr. Bibanov is sure.
Increasingly, news is coming from different parts of the world that hackers or intelligence agencies have gained access to the correspondence of high-ranking officials, celebrities, government officials, and so on. Even from the events of recent days, we can give several examples offhand.
Why is it important to protect correspondence?
The notorious "Russian hackers"
At the beginning of June 2017, an American publication called The Intercept published information from a secret US NSA report on an investigation into attempts to hack voting systems on the eve of the high-profile US presidential elections in 2016. NSA employees were able to establish that a group of hackers had attacked at least one manufacturer of electronic voting systems.Naturally, the hackers are presumably considered Russian, although no evidence has yet been found for this. However, the fact remains that hackers, whoever they were, were able to get into the “holy of holies” of American democracy.
Unpleasant Pavel Durov
At the end of May 2017, Pavel Durov, widely known in Russia, the former general director of the social network Vkontakte, and now the creator and head of the Telegram project, recently received from the service Google message about an attempt to hack his account by “pro-government hackers.” Moreover, on his Twitter page, Durov hastened to upset the special services with the message that he does not use Google service for important correspondence.Kazakh director at a rally
In the spring of 2017, Kazakh film director Marat Teleuov spoke about his experience of communicating with law enforcement officers. Marat “met” the police because of his participation in a rally against the transfer of land to foreigners in May 2016. This issue turned out to be a pressing issue for modern Kazakhstan; a large number of people came out to the rally, and law enforcement officers responded with mass arrests.During the interrogation, the director was shown screenshots of his correspondence from Email and social networks, threatening to imprison him for calling for a rally. Fortunately, Teleuov did not actually encourage his compatriots to riot, and as a result was able to prove his innocence. However, the brazen invasion of his privacy, the pressure during interrogations and 8 hours spent without food or drink, he remembered for a long time.
Everyone is at risk
The examples listed above show that no one, from the civil service to the ordinary person, is immune from situations where hacked correspondence data will be used against him. You might think that to an ordinary person, not a celebrity, not a government official, not a political activist, there is nothing to be afraid of. However, in reality, your private life can be turned inside out at any moment and turned into evidence for the prosecution.It is worth remembering that your correspondence is also of great interest to attackers. Fraudsters can use it to gain access to your bank card, blackmail and other unpleasant ways to extract money from you. And even more harmless cases when mailboxes or accounts on social networks are hacked simply for the sake of sending viruses or spam, causing their owners a lot of inconvenience.
If you want your private life to remain that way, and so that no stranger dares to interfere with it, you need to develop a culture of safe use of instant messengers, postal services, social networks, etc. And the main rule information security– use only secure messengers for important, confidential, personal correspondence. Today this topic is quite popular, and therefore quite a few applications guarantee one degree or another of data protection. Let's evaluate the security level of each of them.
The six most secure instant messengers (according to SECRETVPN)
Signal (formerly called RedPhone)
The application appeared in the AppStore in July 2014, and in Google Play– in November 2015. Members of the non-profit organization OWS (Open Whisper Systems) worked on the creation of the messenger. The application can be used to exchange calls and messages with subscribers whose contacts are in your phone book.
Signal uses technology end-to-end encryption"Double Ratchet" Signal users who start a conversation immediately trigger the creation of two encryption keys that only exist on their phones. And when they try to make a call, users see randomly selected phrases on their screens that must match.
The application servers do not store any keys, as well as information about messages and calls received by the subscriber. A fan of Signal, as well as other OWS projects, is the well-known Edward Snowden. (tweet from Edward Snowden)
Wire
This application was created by developers from Microsoft, Skype, Nokia and Apple. The first version of the messenger appeared in 2014 and immediately became cross-platform: Wire can be installed on Android, iOS and even Mac OS. Initially, the program differed from its analogues mainly in its stellar composition of developers. It can be used to send messages and voice, make group calls and chats, and send music and videos.
However, in 2016, Wire was updated with end-to-end encryption. This, again, is the principle according to which all keys for encrypting and decrypting data are created only on the devices of the participants in the correspondence. Any information that one subscriber transmits to another is completely unreadable until it reaches the recipient. This is essentially the same encryption that Signal uses.
The messenger is registered in Switzerland, a country whose legislation is famous for its respect for privacy. In addition, Wire provides reliable data encryption regardless of what device and OS the subscriber is using.
Silent Phone
This messenger is one of the tools of the Silent Circle package, the use of which Edward Snowden still calls for in his interviews. Silent Circle develops various products for secure communications. At its origins are famous encryption experts: John Callas, Phil Zimmerman, Mike Jaenke. The Silent Phone messenger is quite standard in its functionality: you can use it to write messages and make calls, as well as transfer various files. In addition, users can "recall" messages that have already been sent, erasing all evidence of their existence in the application. Data transfer is carried out through peer-to-peer computer networks increased stability, while the information is encrypted using the SCIMP protocol – the company’s own development.
SCIMP technology, in turn, is based on the ZRTP protocol. The essence of its application comes down to the following (using calls as an example):
- when calling a subscriber, a public ID is generated;
- this ID is used to generate keys with which the current conversation will be encrypted;
- upon completion of the conversation, the pair of keys formed at the beginning is destroyed;
- after the conversation, no one can decipher the content of the session from the outside.
Threema
Threema is a Swiss-made secure messenger that is quite popular among Russian law enforcement officers, businessmen and government officials. The functionality of the application is standard: exchange of text and voice messages, opening group chats, transferring various files, synchronizing contacts, etc.
Until recently, some experts called Threema almost the most secure messenger in existence. The application uses the same end-to-end encryption mechanism, thanks to which the keys needed to decrypt information exist only on users' devices. Additionally, using Threema doesn't require you to enter an email address or even a phone number, making the app as anonymous as possible.
In Russia, this messenger has recently been treated with caution, since Roskomnadzor included it in the Register of Information Dissemination Organizers. How diligently the creators of the application will follow Russian legislation, and whether this will affect Ukrainian users is unknown, but many Threema fans now prefer to conduct confidential conversations in other instant messengers.
WhatsApp can be called one of the most popular applications for free exchange of calls and messages, conducting group chats, sending files and similar operations. It cannot be said that this is the most secure messenger, but in 2016 it acquired an end-to-end data encryption mechanism for all its users. For these purposes, WhatsApp management agreed with representatives of OWS, who provided them with their proprietary Signal Protocol. Keys for encrypting information are not only generated only on subscribers’ devices, but are also periodically changed so that even if one key is cracked, an attacker cannot read the entire correspondence. Moxie Marlinspike, one of the creators of the Signal messenger, took part in the development of this system.
It is worth noting that WhatsApp was not initially positioned as a secure messenger. One of the first to appear on the market, it won users, first of all, thanks to the ability to write messages and call other subscribers for free using only an Internet connection. Therefore, there is no need to talk about the maximum security of the messenger, especially considering its closed code, which does not allow inquisitive users to help WhatsApp developers find and eliminate vulnerabilities.
However, today the application encrypts user data much more thoroughly than a couple of years ago.
Telegram
The new project of Pavel Durov, which first saw the light in the summer of 2013, is the most advertised secure messenger in the post-Soviet space. Telegram allows you to send messages, exchange files, and conduct group chats. You can also edit messages in the messenger, delete them, and set them to self-destruct after a certain period of time. The account is linked to a mobile phone number, although users can also be contacted by their nicknames. The encryption method used was the MTProto protocol, developed by Nikolai Durov (brother of the founder of Vkontakte) and other specialists from the Telegram team. This protocol combines several popular protocols: RSA-2048 for authentication and authorization, DH-2048 for data encoding, AES for message forwarding, etc.
Although the application does have a high degree of data protection, it is still not worth saying that Telegram is the most secure messenger. For example, the linking of an account to a phone number is criticized, as well as the fact that the contents of regular chats (not secret ones) and the phone book are stored on Telegram servers for some time.
Matthew Green, a professor of cryptography at Johns Hopkins University, like a number of other experts, questions the advisability of using a proprietary encryption protocol. The professor is especially perplexed by the fact that the development of the protocol was not carried out by cryptographers, but by mathematicians who cannot accurately verify the absence of vulnerabilities in its mechanism.
The position of the authorities or what to pay attention to
Representatives of the leadership of various states, as a rule, speak out against increasing the level of security of messengers. In Russia this is the “Yarovaya package”, in the UK - a statement by the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Amber Rudd about the inadmissibility of encoding information on WhatsApp after the terrorist attack on March 22, 2017, in the USA - permission to use any data from the phones of suspects, and so on. In most cases, officials justify their position by fighting terrorism and crime. And not all IT companies value the security of their users’ data more than “friendship” with the authorities. Therefore, the use of secure messengers that encrypt data so that only the users themselves can decode it is becoming an urgent need in modern conditions.
The choice of a specific application is yours, but do not forget to keep your finger on the pulse of events. It is necessary to vigilantly monitor how the relationship between the developers of the chosen messenger and government officials develops.
We hope our article helped you decide which messenger to choose, we also recommend using
A person by nature needs constant communication with other people, so every day an increasing number of communication applications appear all over the world, and usually these are not the most popular instant messengers in Russia. Let's see which messengers are most famous in Russia and find the most ideal option.
The most popular messenger is WhatsApp
Due to the blocking of Telegram and thanks to its rich functionality, WhatsApp is the most popular in Russia. More than 68.7% of Beeline clients use this application. Other operators also confirmed that WhatsApp is the leader among instant messengers in the country. This is not surprising, because as of 2016, there were over 1.2 billion users worldwide. The developer himself does not stop at the achieved level, and already in 2018 many useful updates have been introduced: deleting messages from yourself and your interlocutor, creating channels like in Telegram and much more.
The most popular apps 2018 - WhatsApp first, Facebook Messenger second
Peculiarities
- Free communication via messages and calls.
- Synchronization with PC using QR code.
- Creation of large group dialogues – up to 256 people.
- Send various documents, photos, video and audio files, history and location.
- Address book integration with phones.
- Access messages sent while you were offline.
Advantages
- Friendly interface.
- High speed.
- The most popular in Russia.
Flaws
- There is no platform with games for leisure.
- Poor security of messages and files.
- Reduced quality of sent files.
Second place - Facebook Messenger
According to surveys, Facebook Messenger is in second place in popularity in Russia after WhatsApp. In addition, it is the most popular instant messenger in the United States. In mid-2016, the number of users exceeded 1 billion, and the number of installations on Google Play exceeded 73 million. Messenger allows you to communicate with people you know on Facebook without having to log into the browser. Often used to contact a client on behalf of an organization representative. Bot settings can significantly reduce the load on operators.
Peculiarities
- Create group conversations with up to 250 participants.
- Free calls to friends, including video calls.
- Exchange of media files: video, photo, audio, etc.
- Editing photos using the application.
- View files in your gallery without closing the application.
Advantages
- You can find contacts using a phone number or email.
- Correspondence is saved automatically.
- There are a large number of emoticons and stickers.
- There is no advertising at all.
Flaws
- Does not work with Windows operating system.
- All data is securely protected from third parties.
- It is possible to integrate contacts from WhatsApp.
- There is no way to unsend a message or edit it
Third most popular - Viber
Viber ranks third among the most popular messengers in Russia and the world. As for Russia, it is used by more than 45.7% of clients of the VimpelCom operator and 39.7% of Megafon clients. In the Google Play store, the number of downloads is more than 10 million. If you believe the data of the developer himself, then the number of people around the world is over 800 million people. But it should be noted that, despite stable updates, the messenger’s audience is actively declining. You can call, send messages, chat in group chats. Viber is actively used in marketing to conduct advertising campaigns and interact with customers.
Peculiarities
- Voice and video calls.
- Login from a personal computer.
- Group chats for up to 200 people.
- Calls not only to users, but also to landline numbers.
- Participation in public chats.
Advantages
- User-friendly interface.
- Lots of emoticons and the ability to change the background for each chat.
- No advertising.
- Own platform with games.
- You can chat in thematic chats.
Flaws
- Security is at a relatively low level.
- Lots of advertising from stores and other spam.
- Long loading times for games and some other functions.
conclusions
Which messenger to choose is a personal matter for everyone. After all, the most popular messenger in the rest of the world will not become as popular in Russia. It is important to have interlocutors among your friends and acquaintances. The top three we reviewed are worthy instant messengers for everyone, which can provide comfortable and secure communication, file transfer and many other features. The capabilities of all applications are similar. But if you are looking for the most popular messenger that everyone has, then the ideal solution is WhatsApp. It is the simplest and reaches the maximum audience. If you are looking for a more functional version with the ability to organize advertising campaigns and many other functions, then Viber is suitable for you. Ask your friends and acquaintances which messenger they use and make your choice based on this.
Communication and sending files have become even more convenient with the advent of instant messengers - special programs for video calls and instant messaging. The world's first messenger (ICQ) appeared in 1996, then Skype gained popularity, and since 2009 similar programs and mobile applications began to be regularly released: about 70% of the largest cellular operators in Russia (Beeline, MegaFon, MTS) use messengers. Every year the number of users increases by 5 - 7%, while more and more new applications appear. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the TOP 4 instant messengers in terms of popularity among Russians.
The “killer” SMS and part-time brainchild of Pavel Durov - the Telegram messenger - burst into the world of messaging in 2013 and immediately became popular, but mainly abroad. In our country, the share of users according to the results of 2017 is only 7.5%. The number of subscribers in the Russian Federation is about 8 million people, of which 1.5 million are active. The total number of users is about 40 million, and the application is most popular in Iran.
Telegram appeared in the wake of media reports about the surveillance of Internet users by American intelligence agencies. An important advantage of the application is the impossibility of hacking correspondence. Among the important advantages of the program, we note the following:
- message encryption;
- fast work;
- the ability to exchange quick messages and files of various formats;
- own cloud storage;
- the maximum number of users in one chat is up to 5 thousand.
This application was originally created for teamwork, so it is optimal for business. You can use hashtags in correspondence (for now only in Latin), replies and mentions have been added to group chats. Chat users can reply to specific messages by double-clicking on them. When developing the application, Pavel Durov and the Digital Fortress company (translated from English as “digital fortress”) relied on the security and privacy of users.
In addition to encrypted messages, corporate users note the built-in function of synchronizing files and messages between mobile application and the PC version. It is also possible to view message statuses (read/unread). With the help of Telegram bots, the country's largest companies successfully interact with clients: Tinkoff, Alfa Bank, Qiwi, Tele2, etc. Telegram is a free, secure and convenient communication channel that works on devices with operating systems iOS, OS X and Android, and the readability of messages in it is on average three times higher compared to email correspondence.
A program similar to Skype in functionality appeared in December 2010. Viber app has about 900 million users worldwide, and in Russia about 82 million people use it (about a third of subscribers of the largest domestic operators cellular communications). The program development centers are located in Israel and Belarus (in the homelands of the founders, Talmon Marko and Igor Magazinnik, who met while serving in the Israeli army).
Since 2016, you can create public accounts for commercial enterprises in the application. They are designed to provide two-way communication between subscribers and business representatives. Business accounts and public chats can be created upon request, but are completely free. Other benefits of the application include:
- free calls to anywhere in the world (between Viber users);
- transfer of video, photos, text documents;
- conference chats supporting up to 40 users.
Viber offers automatic search users by phone number from their contact list: just install the application on your smartphone, after which it will analyze the phone book and show which of your friends also has the messenger installed. If the user you want to call does not have the Viber application, use Viber Out to make calls (calls are paid, you need to top up your account balance).
The advantage of using Viber Out is the lower cost of calls compared to mobile operators, which is especially important in roaming and when making international calls. Please note: communication via Viber is free only when connected to Wi-Fi networks. For using the program through cellular networks Additional charges may apply. Among interesting features applications - the ability to send money transfers between accounts thanks to the company’s cooperation with the Western Union system. The message encryption function is responsible for the secrecy of personal correspondence, but there is also another function - creating copies of personal correspondence, which calls into question the fact of security.
The most popular messenger in the world - WhatsApp - appeared in 2009. The number of its users exceeds 1 billion, and in our country its audience is 106 million people (more than 40% of the population). Every day, up to 5.6 million Russians use it, sending SMS messages, audio and video files, and documents. WhatsApp became the first service synchronized with phone book contacts. Interestingly, the application was developed in California and owned by Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook corporation, but is not very popular in the United States. The program is most in demand among users from Spain.
The client works on most platforms, including Windows, iOS, Android, Nokia Symbian, etc. Since 2016, the application is completely free, although previously there was a subscription fee of $1 after the first year of use. The program has many business-oriented functions, namely:
- sending documents in PDF format;
- synchronization of received files between mobile and desktop versions;
- transferring files saved in iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox;
- authorized business accounts;
- group chats with the ability to add up to 256 participants;
- mass mailing;
- automatic saving of photos to the device gallery;
- sending current geoposition;
- displaying message status and delivery history.
You can turn off the read status in WhatsApp, and then the other person will not know whether you received their message or not. You can also disable the display of the last login time - another feature for maintaining privacy. In dialogue mode, you can delete any message by tapping and holding (the context menu, where you can select an action). WhatsApp does not have a full-fledged program for the PC, but there is a web version, which can be entered by reading the security QR code on the computer screen using a smartphone.
One of the oldest, but still popular instant messengers, Skype, was created in 2003. It's cross platform software absolutely free to use when making audio and video calls, as well as sending messages to users who also have it installed. The application uses closed code, which allows you to talk about high degree his safety. More than 300 million people around the world use Skype every month, making calls totaling over 3 billion minutes every day.
Main advantages of the program:
Unlike most IP telephony programs, Skype uses a decentralized P2P architecture, and the only central element is the identification server that stores Accounts And backups contact lists. Special data compression algorithms allow you to make voice calls comparable in quality to traditional calls via mobile phones using an Internet connection with a speed of 30 - 60 kbps.
If you have been using instant messengers for a long time or are just planning to install them, feel free to share your opinion about them on our website - like your favorite programs and create a popular rating with us!
Contrary to popular belief, messengers for smartphones are also being developed in Russia. Of course, they are not as widespread throughout the world as industry giants WhatsApp or, for example, Line, but some of them are not bad at all and have even won fans outside of Russia.
Here is just a small list of national messengers:
- Telegram is perhaps the most widespread at present Russian manager for smartphones from the author of the social network VKontakte Pavel Durov. Numbers 62 million active users Worldwide;
- Kuku-AU is a messenger with a funny name, but nevertheless intended for serious purposes. The authors position it as an application for communication between Russian businessmen and relevant services;
- Rugram is a messenger with a patriotic “flavor” from the Kremlin youth movement. The code is based on the open part of the Telegram program, there are specific patriotic stickers;
- Avirton is a messenger specializing exclusively in financial management. For example, money transfers, buying and selling shares. Developer Dmitry Karaev;
- FireChat is an interesting development from Moscow State University graduate Stanislav Shalunov. This messenger allows you to communicate even in the absence of cellular communications and the Internet. Messages are received and transmitted within a radius of up to 70 meters directly between devices on which the application is installed.
Telegram
Russian manager for smartphones, deserves special attention.
On August 14, 2013, the first version of this most popular domestic messenger was released today. As you know, the developers of Telegram are the Durov brothers, and Pavel (founder of the VKontakte social network) is responsible for the functionality and program code as a whole, and Nikolay is responsible for the security of message encryption.
Today Telegram has 62 million users around the globe.
Like many direct competitors, Telegram can exchange instant messages, transfer files and supports changing themes. The default design almost completely copies VKontakte. In a word, nothing outstanding, but everything was done to perfection high level. Simple, tasteful and high quality. It's gratifying that the messenger is absolutely free.
The most attractive feature for some subscribers is the security and secrecy of communication from unauthorized persons. According to the recollections of Pavel Durov himself, Telegram was conceived as a means of secure communication with his brother. Later the project grew international. A specially developed protocol encrypts the message at the sending stage, directly on the user’s device. In the future, it passes through several servers, so if you wish, you can hide the sending location. Telegram also implements a message self-destruction function using a timer. Information is deleted directly from the server, which is an additional security benefit.
At one time, Pavel Durov announced a competition for "best hacker"
Anyone who could hack Telegram correspondence was promised 200 thousand dollars. No one received the main prize, but one of the users, who, by the way, was not even an expert in the field of encryption and security protocols, discovered a vulnerability. He received the well-deserved $100 thousand, after which Telegram became even safer. Also, the service does not limit the size of investments and is built on open source code. This allowed the patriotic messenger Rugram, already mentioned above, to appear.
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