BlackBerry’s EVP of BBM, Andrew Bocking, has left the company, over what some sources claim are disagreements of how the messaging platform should integrate with the rest of the company. … Continue reading
The Snapchat exploit revealed last week has seemingly exposed the usernames and cellphone numbers of a claimed 4.6 million users of the self-destructing messaging service, according to a site that … Continue reading
Looking at the “messaging wars,” the prevailing assumption right now is that all these services are in direct competition with each other. But they aren’t. At least not yet.
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There’s a little bit of a shift going on at Instagram, one that makes the person-to-person exchange a real deal. This update is called “Instagram Direct”, and it’s essentially a messaging service inside the photo-taking social network. This update is coming to iOS today in Instagram 5.0, Android’s Instagram 5.0 today as well – the […]
Southwest Airlines has launched a new iMessage-only WiFi plan, offering iOS messaging addicts the opportunity to continue their conversations even if they’re not interested in other internet access. The new plan, priced at $2 per day, is a fourth of the cost of Southwest’s usual WiFi access, with the airline saying it has plans to […]
Skype use in China was especially risky for a while — when a local company (TOM Online) was processing data with no real safeguards, it virtually guaranteed the presence of government monitoring. Now that Microsoft has teamed with Guangming Founder on a new China-specific Skype build, there’s a chance that your chats are more secure. GreatFire.org has noticed that the updated app encrypts all data and sends it directly to Microsoft, making it harder to censor or spy on any communications. Don’t be too quick to discuss taboo topics, though. It’s not clear that the Chinese software is free of back doors; Microsoft says it’s following local regulations, which aren’t exactly open-minded. Even so, anyone already using Skype in mainland China will likely want to upgrade if they value some semblance of privacy.
Update: Guangming Founder was created by Guangming Daily, a government-backed newspaper; while Skype’s new approach is still more secure, the association casts extra doubt on the privacy that users can expect.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Microsoft
Via: The Next Web
Source: GreatFire.org
Google might prefer Android users to stick with Hangouts for their instant messaging, but BlackBerry has inked a deal to preload BBM on a number of handsets running the OS in mulitple regions. The agreement – which will affect select Android phones offered in Africa, India, Indonesia, Latin America, and the Middle East – won’t […]
Between social networks and a near infinite number of messaging apps, there are frankly too many ways us humans can keep in touch. With so many platforms competing for a slot in your app drawer, some are attempting to absorb SMS traffic and become your one-stop messaging shop. Google Hangouts was updated a month ago with SMS support (stock Android 4.4 KitKat does away with a pre-loaded SMS app altogether), and now Samsung’s ChatON for Android has followed suit. The latest version of the app allows you to set it as your SMS/MMS inbox, though the feature is only live in Germany and Brazil at the moment. Not that anyone uses ChatON, but it’s another mixture of cellular and data threads that’s a recipe for confusion. Facebook recently killed SMS integration from its messaging app due to poor uptake, probably because users still prefer the distinction. Everyone uses Snapchat exclusively now anyway, right?
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Software, Mobile, Samsung
Via: SamMobile
Source: Play store
If you’ve used Skype on Windows Phone, chances are you’ve dealt with out-of-sync and missed messages. Luckily, a fix is on the horizon: according to Skype product manager Jeff Kunins, who spoke with The Verge, Microsoft is aware of the issues and working to resolve them. Part of the problem, it seems, stems from Microsoft’s move from peer-to-peer networks for Skype to cloud-based servers.
Once the hiccups are fixed, users can expect syncing across devices to avoid any random bursts of old, already-read messages. Kunins also said that continuous notifications will run only on the device you’re currently using, as opposed to every Skype-running gadget you own. Few things are more headache-inducing than five different devices ringing at once, after all. Finally, Kunins hinted that the Skype app for Windows 8.1 will have “a lot of fun things” to offer. Stay tuned.
Filed under: Software, Microsoft
Source: The Verge
The public’s adoration of stickers and kawaii mascots continues unabated. There are now 300 million Line users out there, possibly making it the biggest messaging app you’ve never used. While it still has a challenge on its hands to claw away users from Western favorites like Whatsapp and Facebook, the conventional wisdom is that messaging is very much big business. Line continues to grow its following in Asia and while Japan forms the base of operations for the app, overseas messaging accounts for roughly 80 percent of its business. We’re off to score some new Dragon Quest stickers. Or maybe some Finding Nemo ones. So many ‘stamps’, so little time.
Source: Line blog (Japanese)
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