FaceTime
Apple today showed previews of its FaceTime video chat, adding the ability to schedule calls with multiple attendees and making the software compatible with Android and Windows devices. For the first time, FaceTime calls will extend beyond Apple devices.
Zoom
Zoom faced a number of new challenges due to an unprecedented surge in users as COVID-19 forced employees to work from home and students to learn from home amid local lockdown restrictions.
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft has added a series of new video-calling features to Teams, including a Together mode which looks to provide a new way to group chat. With the new update, Microsoft Teams users will be able to view more members on the mobile's screen and also consume less amount of internet data during a video call and more.
Telegram
Telegram has rolled out a new update bringing an alpha version of video calling on both Android and iOS. You can start a video call from your contact's profile page, and switch video on or off at any time during voice calls. Like all other video content on Telegram, video calls support picture-in-picture mode, allowing you to scroll through chats and multitask while maintaining eye contact.
WhatsApp Dark Mode
Back in March, WhatsApp rolled out Dark Mode to Android and iOS, and the company today announced that Dark Mode will shortly be coming to both Desktop and Web versions of WhatsApp.
Facebook Messenger Rooms
Due to the current lockdown, video calling software is hugely popular at the moment, with Zoom the main beneficiary. Now Facebook wants a piece of the video calling market, and has introduced a new service called Messenger Rooms.
WhatsApp Dark Mode
WhatsApp has launched a new update for Android which brings support for call waiting, new privacy settings and more. The biggest feature is obviously the new call waiting feature, although the company has skipped adding call holding for this release.
Telegram
Telegram has rolled out a new update bringing improvements to photos and videos. Users can now switch to the Picture-in-Picture mode to watch your video in a small window and change video playback speed in the playback controls '...' menu.
Telegram
Telegram has rolled out a new update bringing three new kinds of telegram polls. Previously, all polls on Telegram were anonymous but you can now create polls that allow everyone in the group to see who voted for what.
Telegram
Telegram has rolled out a new update bringing a new Theme Editor, Send When Online, Verifiable Builds and more. Using the new theme editor in Chat Settings (or Appearance Settings on iOS), you can quickly tweak the style of elements in Telegram chats and add gradients to both your messages and your background. Users can easily switch between tabs Main Color, Background and My Messages.
WhatsApp has launched a new update for Android which brings support for call waiting, new privacy settings and more. The biggest feature is obviously the new call waiting feature, although the company has skipped adding call holding for this release.
rcs-android
Back in June Google began rolling out RCS in the UK and France, bypassing carriers. Google is now doing the same in the US. If you already have Messages, you’ll be prompted to enable chat features in the coming weeks. If you don’t have Messages, you can download it on the Play Store. Google expects this service to be broadly available in the U.S. by the end of year.
WhatsApp
Many Android users are complaining that one of the most recent WhatsApp updates is draining their phone’s battery life by up to 50 percent in a matter of hours, regardless of active use. The popular messaging app is facing a backlash from users who say their devices are seeing significant battery drain after updating to the latest version of the messaging service.
IMImobile
IMImobile has teamed up with US network software giant Mavenir to launch an RCS messaging initiative. IMImobile and Mavenir will work together with global operator mutual customers, integrated RCS enablement technologies and a shared vision to increase adoption of this new channel globally.
Cybersecutity
Huawei is more trusted by the UK public than Facebook, according to the results of a UK consumer survey conducted by Censuswide. The survey examined attitudes towards the big messaging platform providers (i.e. Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp), as well as wider consumer trust in the technology sector.
Telegram
Telegram has rolled out a new update, bringing features like Silent Messages, Slow Mode, Admin Titles, and more. Users can send messages silently. To use this feature, users need to simply hold the Send button and choose to deliver the message or media without sound and the receiver will get a notification as usual, but their phone won’t make a sound even if they are not in Do Not Disturb mode.
Telegram
Telegram has rolled out a new update on iOS, bringing features like Silent Messages, Slow Mode, Admin Titles, and more. Users can send messages silently. To use this feature, users need to simply hold the Send button and choose to deliver the message or media without sound and the receiver will get a notification as usual, but their phone won’t make a sound even if they are not in Do Not Disturb mode.
IMImobile
IMImobile has announced it has conditionally agreed to acquire US-based mobile engagement and RCS Business Messaging leader 3Cinteractive. The acquisition allows IMImobile to increase its footprint in North America and become the global market leader for RCS (Rich Communications Services) Business Messaging.
BBM
BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) will be put out of its misery today, finally closing down, following its failure to retain users while being unable to attract new ones.
Telegram
Telegram has rolled out a new update which brings chat archives, a fresh look for the app and more. It's taken its time but the ability to archive chats is finally here. To archive, simply swipe left on your main screen. You can further hide archived chats with another left swipe and to see them again, simply pull down on the main screen.
At it's ongoing F8 annual developer conference, while the keynote opened with CEO Mark Zuckerberg stressing on a privacy-focused platform, there were a lot of new developments shared as far as all of Facebook’s products are concerned. Starting with Messenger, Facebook shared plans about integrating the chat app with Instagram and WhatsApp.
Last month, Facebook included a new dark mode in its Messenger app, which had to be activated by using a hidden Easter Egg. Facebook has now rolled out the feature with with a simple toggle switch from settings.
whatsapp-business
WhatsApp has finally released the long-awaited business version of its messaging application on iOS, promising a much better experience for SMBs who want to communicate with customers on the platform.
IMIConnect Salesforce
IMImobile has made its enterprise cloud communications platform IMIconnect available on Salesforce AppExchange. Salesforce users will now be able to quickly launch and orchestrate two-way, trigger based customer communications across more than 10 channels including SMS, WhatsApp, Apple Business Chat, In App and Push, amongst others.
Facebook has finally included a new dark mode in its Messenger app, and it’s relatively easy to enable. Dark Mode is more than just a personal preference as it can save battery life if you spend a lot of time within the app. This is thanks to the fact that your phone isn’t spending all of that energy to light your bright screen up.
Hermes UK is introducing innovative technology aimed at bringing people together by enabling the sender of a parcel to connect with its recipient through a personal video message. Hermes Play, which was created within Hermes’ Innovation Lab, allows the sender to pre- record a personal message which is then uploaded via the Hermes Send app.
Facebook
Facebook currently owns and operates three messaging platforms that all run independently of each other - Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram. All three platforms feature their own respective messaging component; Instagram users, for instance, can't use the app to contact users on WhatsApp.
WhatsApp
WhatsApp is limiting its users from forwarding single messages no more than five times, in an attempt to stop the spread of fake news through the messaging platform. The service, which had allowed users to forward messages up to 20 times, announced the new policy in Jakarta, Indonesia where the country is holding its general elections.
BlackBerry Spark
BlackBerry has released an update to the BlackBerry Spark Communications Platform for developers. The biggest change to this release (R6) is that developers no longer have to manage their own Key Management Service (KMS). When you create your domain, you now have the option to have BlackBerry Manage and distribute your cryptographic keys.
Back in February 2017, BlackBerry entered the Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) market with the introduction of its BBM Enterprise SDK, enabling developers to integrate secure messaging, voice and video capabilities into applications and services. However, the name didn't really do the development platform justice, and was re-branded to the BlackBerry Spark Communications Platform,.
Android Messages
Android smartphone owners that use Android Messages can now send and receive text messages from their computer. The feature, which rolled-out worldwide today, means users can continue to send and receive messages in their text threads even when their phone isn't to hand. Text, photographs, and stickers are all supported in the web browser version of Android Messages.
BlackBerry has rolled out an update to BBM Enterprise for BlackBerry 10 (yes BB10). BBM Enterprise for BlackBerry 10 v20.3.0.5 doesn't bring any new features and brings fixes to customer issues. BBM Enterprise allows employees to take advantage of the speed, reliability and privacy of BBM for faster communication.
Telegram
A Russian court in Moscow court has banned the popular Telegram messaging app. The court ruling on Friday came after Telegram refused to give Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) encryption keys that would grant access to user messaging data.
Snapchat
BlackBerry has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Snap Inc. SImilar to the companies lawsuit against Facebook last month, BlackBerry says that Snap has infringed on intellectual property, including innovations on real-time activity location for maps, message notification techniques and methods for integrating advertising on mobile devices.
Outlook for Android
Microsoft has released another Outlook for Android update that brings the addition of Calendar attachments, allowing Outlook users to view them on their Android devices. You can view embedded images and open these attachments directly from the event details in the Outlook app.
BBM for iPhone
Creative Media Works has released the latest update to BBM for iPhone, which brings the ability to share videos in groups and add albums to your profile. In addition, users can now easily share content with more people with the new contact multi-picker.
Samsung and Disney are bringing Disney characters to life as new AR Emojis for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+. Starting today, Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ users will be able to access classic Disney characters – Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse– directly from their phone to create personalized messages.
Facebook has implemented video chatting in Messenger Lite, a slimmed down version of Messenger for Android that offers the core features of the app while giving everyone the opportunity to stay connected to their friends and family, intended for people with older Android devices and/or slower Internet connections.
Messenger Kids
Facebook Messenger Kids, a controversial new messenger aimed at children is now available on Android. This app is specifically designed for children between the ages of 6 through 12, since you can be age 13 and sign up for a normal Facebook account.