The alternatives: Should WhatsApp really be scared?

Instant Messenger smartphone application WhatsApp pretty much anhilated SMS services in the country. The app became synonymous to the smartphone revolution.

WhatsApp entered the market when Blackberry Messenger was ruling the 'texting' brigade. It tarnished BBM's exclusivity and penetrated intelligently into smartphones via Android and Apple devices.

WhatsApp now has more than 250 million active monthly users, a higher number than either Twitter or Skype.

However, with alternatives now rolling out in the markets the daunting pressure to innovate is on Whatsapp.

here are the alternative apps to whatsapp..........

The alternatives:
WeChat: WeChat is a mobile text and voice messaging communication service developed by Tencent in China and was released in January 2011. Summarising it aptly, WeChat is basically free texting, voice messages, and video calls in your pocket. WeChat has over 400 million users already. WeChat has launched an intensive marketing campaign by raking in Parineeti Chopra, Imran Khan and even Lionel Messi in their advertisements. However, personally I did not like the user interface of WeChat and the only think additional they provide is the voice messaging which I can do on WhatsApp with the help of a recorder (which is available on all smartphones). And who voice messages anyway?

LINE: LINE is a new calling and messaging app and is available on both smartphones and PCs across multiple carriers and operating systems including iOS, Android, Nokia Asha, Windows phone, BlackBerry, Windows and Mac.The Indian user base crossed 5 million milestone in just 3 weeks of launch. LINE for Android manages a rating of 4.1 stars while WhatsApp attains an extremely high 4.6 star rating. However as WhatsApp has intruded the market heavily, it would only remain to be seen how LINE manages to sustain its usage. It is one thing to download and app and a totally different thing to use it heavily. WhatsApp still remains the king of instant messaging.

BBM: BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) is an instant messenger and videotelephony app that allows messaging (and videocalls for BlackBerry 10 smartphones) between BlackBerry users. Blackberry recently announced that it would BBM on Android and iOS platforms too. We can only wait and see how it will affect WhatsApp's credibility in the market.

Hike: Hike is messaging app for Android that lets you chat for free with any other user of the service. Hike is very similar to applications such as s WhatsApp or LINE. Although the user interface of Hike looks great, it doesn't have the customization options of WhatsApp, which allows you to change the background image of the chat window. WhatsApp has a more varied range of emoticons, too.

WhatsApp clearly enjoys the first movers advantage in the market. It has caught the best seat in the theatre and is enjoying the movie with free popcorn.

One great feature of WhatsApp is that it integrates with your existing phone address book and there’s no need to log in and out as you are always connected. If you miss a push notification, messages can be saved offline for later retrieval, and other features include location sharing, contact exchange, custom wallpaper, custom notification sounds and much more.

However, every product needs fuel. WhatsApp needs to innovate to stay on top of the list. The newest update on WhatsApp is that it is now free on iOS platforms.

With the ongoing app war, consumers will only gain as competitors will shell out more innovative and exciting apps.

Labels: tech release