 "A matter of messaging")
"Have you downloaded WhatsApp or WeChat? While I won't be able to BBM you, we do need to stay in touch," my wife told her BFF (best friend forever) over the phone. Her friend had traded in her BlackBerry for a high-end Android device, and my wife, while losing a BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) buddy, wanted to ensure her friend was on her WhatsApp/WeChat list.
Whatever happened to the good old text messaging aka SMS (short messaging service)? There was a time the entire country was hooked on to this service, to save on expensive phone bills. Or you could email, provided the person you were sending the email to had regular access to internet (which wasn't a given those days).
The golden days of the SMS service are finally over, at least if one goes by the number of instant messaging services making a beeline for India.
BlackBerry possibly started the trend with their BBM service - exclusive to their handsets - which drove the sale of these devices in India. It also helped that the entry-level BlackBerry was priced around Rs 10,000. Those using BBM loved it for its exclusivity. And last but not the least, unlike SMS, the service was free! (Of course, you paid data charges when you opted for the BlackBerry plan, but nothing extra, right?)
If you had a smartphone, you also had access to chat applications such as GTalk, Yahoo or MSN Messenger. And if you didn't have an unlimited data plan, chances were you'd be rewarded with a hefty bill if you used these services very often.
Then came a flurry of instant messaging apps, with WhatsApp and Nimbuzz being the first movers. The simple interface of WhatsApp appealed to most and soon it zoomed to the top of the popularity list. It helped that the messenger was available across platforms and got devices from different manufacturers talking.
With the advent of cheaper phones, instant messaging on the mobile was no longer restricted to those using expensive handsets. The spread of the 3G service also contributes to the rising populaity of instant messaging.
SMS had become the de facto mode of sending greetings on festivals and special occasions such as the New Year, with telecom companies pocketing a fortune on those days SMS subscriber packs did not apply. Those of us on BlackBerrys used BBM on those occasions (if the other party also had a BB). But after WhatsApp was available across platforms, we started sending greetings on that service.
Soon, we were introduced to WeChat, immensely popular in China. The service was initially launched on Android and iOS and the cool factor was shaking your phone to find a new friend. While many dismissed it as a WhatsApp clone, those brave enough to start using the service soon discovered there was more to the app than just chatting with friends. One could also send instant video and voice messages. The company went on to launch the service across platforms (including for featurephones) and suddenly, many WhatsApp fans (my wife included) hastened to download this funky service. It helped that they had roped in the handsome footballer Lionel Messi for an advertisement.
Nimbuzz soon staged a comeback with gaming et al, along with a messenger service. And, they also came pre-installed with certain smartphones. And Windows Phone 8 brought along many services that we were familiar with on the desktop. Skype and Viber, two VoIP (voice over internet protocol) services people used to make calls on iOS and Android earlier, also made their appearance on this platform. By this time, most instant messengers had versions for everything up to featurephones and some like Nimbuzz had a version even for low-end Java-based phones.
Skype soon made itself available for the latest BlackBerry 10, while the smartphone maker introduced video chat on BBM.
Even telecom companies had hopped on to the bandwagon. While some offered instant messaging packs, Bharti, which runs Airtel, partnered with Japan's SoftBank to bring their own version, called 'hike', which could be heavily customised.
Are built-in messengers on phones, such as BlackBerry's BBM service, Apple's iMessaging and Samsung's ChatON, losing their sheen? Certainly, it seems so. Of course, those using similar handsets used these (and Samsung by dint of its big portfolio of handsets was the clear winner), but they have ceased to be the primary messenger app.
Possibly getting wise to this move, BlackBerry announced they would soon provide BBM to people using iOS and Android devices. BBM will be a test case for messengers offered by smartphone makers. If, after launching for Android and iOS, it becomes a success, things may look up for native messengers.
This month, Japan's popular messenger, LINE, reached Indian shores, and is available on multiple platforms. This is possibly the last nail in the coffin for text messages, which made their debut some 20 years ago.
There are still some faithful people, such as yours truly, who still use this prehistoric service pretty regularly for work, especially to inform bosses about taking leave!
Whatever happened to the good old text messaging aka SMS (short messaging service)? There was a time the entire country was hooked on to this service, to save on expensive phone bills. Or you could email, provided the person you were sending the email to had regular access to internet (which wasn't a given those days).
The golden days of the SMS service are finally over, at least if one goes by the number of instant messaging services making a beeline for India.
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If you had a smartphone, you also had access to chat applications such as GTalk, Yahoo or MSN Messenger. And if you didn't have an unlimited data plan, chances were you'd be rewarded with a hefty bill if you used these services very often.
Then came a flurry of instant messaging apps, with WhatsApp and Nimbuzz being the first movers. The simple interface of WhatsApp appealed to most and soon it zoomed to the top of the popularity list. It helped that the messenger was available across platforms and got devices from different manufacturers talking.
With the advent of cheaper phones, instant messaging on the mobile was no longer restricted to those using expensive handsets. The spread of the 3G service also contributes to the rising populaity of instant messaging.
SMS had become the de facto mode of sending greetings on festivals and special occasions such as the New Year, with telecom companies pocketing a fortune on those days SMS subscriber packs did not apply. Those of us on BlackBerrys used BBM on those occasions (if the other party also had a BB). But after WhatsApp was available across platforms, we started sending greetings on that service.
Soon, we were introduced to WeChat, immensely popular in China. The service was initially launched on Android and iOS and the cool factor was shaking your phone to find a new friend. While many dismissed it as a WhatsApp clone, those brave enough to start using the service soon discovered there was more to the app than just chatting with friends. One could also send instant video and voice messages. The company went on to launch the service across platforms (including for featurephones) and suddenly, many WhatsApp fans (my wife included) hastened to download this funky service. It helped that they had roped in the handsome footballer Lionel Messi for an advertisement.
Nimbuzz soon staged a comeback with gaming et al, along with a messenger service. And, they also came pre-installed with certain smartphones. And Windows Phone 8 brought along many services that we were familiar with on the desktop. Skype and Viber, two VoIP (voice over internet protocol) services people used to make calls on iOS and Android earlier, also made their appearance on this platform. By this time, most instant messengers had versions for everything up to featurephones and some like Nimbuzz had a version even for low-end Java-based phones.
Skype soon made itself available for the latest BlackBerry 10, while the smartphone maker introduced video chat on BBM.
Even telecom companies had hopped on to the bandwagon. While some offered instant messaging packs, Bharti, which runs Airtel, partnered with Japan's SoftBank to bring their own version, called 'hike', which could be heavily customised.
Are built-in messengers on phones, such as BlackBerry's BBM service, Apple's iMessaging and Samsung's ChatON, losing their sheen? Certainly, it seems so. Of course, those using similar handsets used these (and Samsung by dint of its big portfolio of handsets was the clear winner), but they have ceased to be the primary messenger app.
Possibly getting wise to this move, BlackBerry announced they would soon provide BBM to people using iOS and Android devices. BBM will be a test case for messengers offered by smartphone makers. If, after launching for Android and iOS, it becomes a success, things may look up for native messengers.
This month, Japan's popular messenger, LINE, reached Indian shores, and is available on multiple platforms. This is possibly the last nail in the coffin for text messages, which made their debut some 20 years ago.
There are still some faithful people, such as yours truly, who still use this prehistoric service pretty regularly for work, especially to inform bosses about taking leave!