Top 40 Instant Messaging and (Video) Chat Services

INSTANT MESSAGING (IM) is a type of online chat which offers real-time text transmission over the Internet. A LAN messenger operates in a similar way over a local area network. Short messages are typically transmitted bi-directionally between two parties, when each user chooses to complete a thought and select "send". Some IM applications can use push technology to provide real-time text, which transmits messages character by character, as they are composed. More advanced instant messaging can add file transfer, clickable hyperlinks, Voice over IP, or video chat.

ONLINE CHAT may refer to any kind of communication over the Internet that offers a real-time transmission of text messages from sender to receiver. Chat messages are generally short in order to enable other participants to respond quickly. Thereby, a feeling similar to a spoken conversation is created, which distinguishes chatting from other text-based online communication forms such as Internet forums and email. Online chat may address point-to-point communications as well as multicast communications from one sender to many receivers and voice and video chat, or may be a feature of a web conferencing service.

VIDEOTELEPHONY comprises the technologies for the reception and transmission of audio-video signals by users at different locations, for communication between people in real time. A videophone is a telephone with a video display, capable of simultaneous video and audio for communication between people in real time. Videoconferencing implies the use of this technology for a group or organizational meeting rather than for individuals, in a videoconference. Telepresence may refer either to a high-quality videotelephony system (where the goal is to create the illusion that remote participants are in the same room) or to meetup technology, which goes beyond video into robotics (such as moving around the room or physically manipulating objects).

Although not as widely used in everyday communications as audio-only and text communication, useful applications include sign language transmission for deaf and speech-impaired people, distance education, telemedicine, and overcoming mobility issues. It is also used in commercial and corporate settings to facilitate meetings and conferences, typically between parties that already have established relationships. News media organizations have begun to use desktop technologies like Skype to provide higher-quality audio than the phone network, and video links at much lower cost than sending professional equipment or using a professional studio. More popular videotelephony technologies use the Internet rather than the traditional landline phone network, even accounting for modern digital packetized phone network protocols, and even though videotelephony software commonly runs on smartphones.

Instant Messaging & (Video) Chat News & Resources

• 4 BEST SATELLITE MESSENGERS FOR TRAVELING OFF-THE-GRID - "Stay safe and text your friends and family from every corner of the globe."
• 5 best chat apps for your coronavirus quarantine - ranked! - "Group video platforms are making a heroic rise from last resort to daily routine as people stay indoors. We tried five of the most popular ones out there."
• 5 Texting Strategies That Keep A Guy's Interest - "Sending mundane text messages can really sabotage your chances for a reply."
• 9 hidden iOS Messages features you should definitely be using - "Here are 9 hidden iOS Messages features everyone needs to know."
• 15 hidden WhatsApp features that everyone should know about - The Telegraph.
• 17 best Facebook Messenger tips & tricks 2016 - PC Advisor.
• A Guide to Snapchat for People Who Don’t Get Snapchat - The New York Times.
• A Single App That’ll Wrangle Your Millions of Messengers - Wired.
• Animoji - iOS includes an animated emoji feature known as Animoji. This responds to facial expressions via the iPhone X camera, to animate various 3D animated emojis that can be sent as a video file with sound. Animoji does not replace any existing emoji support in iOS, and works exclusively as an iMessage app. In iOS 12, Animoji is also available in FaceTime, and joined by a 3D avatar feature called Memoji.
• Apple & Burberry develop ‘R Message’ chat tool for personalized shopping - "Apple is partnering with Burberry to help the luxury fashion retailer create a more personal shopping experience. A new service called “R Message” will integrate with Burberry’s iOS app and allow store associates to directly message select clients. The service will be available by invitation only and piloted before rolling out to every Burberry store."
• Apple explains how it’s making your iPhone a full-fledged webcam for your Mac - "A WWDC session details the new Continuity Camera for macOS 13 and iOS 16."
• Apple silently change FaceTime video calls on your iPhone for the better - "Apple made a change to a handful of iPhone models with the latest update - and didn't tell anyone. Thankfully, it's a positive change for anyone planning to video call friends and family over the Christmas period."
• Apple 'text bomb' can crash iPhones with single message - The Telegraph.
• Apple will let you use iPhones for video chats on Mac - "(Because its webcams stink). iPhone users are walking around with great cameras in their pockets, so why not use that with their Macs? That's the basic idea behind Continuity Camera, a new feature coming to macOS Ventura that'll let you plop an iPhone on top of your Mac, and use those mobile cameras to power video chats in FaceTime, Teams and any other conferencing app."
• Apple’s Chinese business could be devastated by Trump’s WeChat ban - "Trump’s ban could have far-reaching consequences for Apple."
• Apple’s hidden setting instantly makes your video & audio calls sound better - "It doesn’t work everywhere, but when it does, it’s magic."
• Apple’s Huge iPhone Mistake - Bad News For 1 Billion Users - "iMessage still has two major weaknesses - both of which need fixing and both of which impact all its billion - plus users, not just the tiny minority targeted by the highly sophisticated Pegasus attacks."
• Are you short on personality? These email-writing apps can fix that - "Struggling to hit the right notes over email and chat? Perhaps you need the ‘sarcasm converter’."
• are voice notes killing the phone call? - "For some generations, voice notes have replaced text messages and even phone calls. But are they the future of communication - or just plain annoying?"
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• Belkin Auto-Tracking Stand Pro with DockKit. This is the coolest new iPhone accessory at CES 2024 - "Belkin just revealed the first DockKit-compatible iPhone stand. The Belkin Auto Tracking Stand Pro is perhaps the most practical device I've seen at CES 2024, even if it sounds rather pricey at $180. Essentially, it's a battery-powered iPhone mount that unlocks a lesser-known iOS 17 feature, and it's super convenient for recording content."
• BeReal - French messaging app released in 2020, developed by Alexis Barreyat and Kévin Perreau. Its main feature is a daily notification that encourages users to share photos with friends of themselves and their day to day life given a randomly selected two-minute window every day. Critics noted its emphasis on authenticity, which some felt crossed the line into the mundane. The name "BeReal" is a pun. Its primary reference relates to its focus on users uploading unpolished photos, while also being a pun of the term b-reel (In film and television production, B-roll, B roll, B-reel or B reel is supplemental or alternative footage intercut with the main shot).
• best alternatives to Zoom for videoconferencing - "If recent news has made you Zoom-hesitant, there are other apps available."
• best free apps for video calling - "Work, chat, and party from home."
• Best Messaging Apps for 2020 and Beyond - "How can we define the best messaging apps? The truth is we can't really but what we can do is look at different uses, needs and popularity to give us a list of messenger apps to suit just about everyone."
• BlueJeans - by Verizon is a company that provides an interoperable cloud-based video conferencing service that connects participants across a wide range of devices and conferencing platforms.
• Can The FBI Hack Into Private Signal Messages On A Locked iPhone? Evidence Indicates Yes - "Signal has become the de facto king of secure messaging apps of late, stealing users from WhatsApp and gathering millions of others looking for private forms of communication."
• ‘Can you hear me now?’ Study reveals why voices are raised on video calls - "Scientists find that as video quality deteriorates, people speak louder and alter gestures to compensate."
• Can your boss read your messages? - "Are your work messages as private as you think? We all need to vent about tasks or colleagues sometimes. But if we gripe on work devices, can our bosses read our messages?
• Dark patterns, the tricks websites use to make you say yes, explained - "How design can manipulate and coerce you into doing what websites want."
• Discord (software) - proprietary freeware instant messaging and VoIP application and digital distribution platform designed for creating communities ranging from gamers to education and businesses. Discord specializes in text, image, video and audio communication between users in a chat channel. Discord runs on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, and in web browsers. As of 21 July 2019, there are over 250 million users of the software.
• DITCH FACEBOOK MESSENGER. USE MESSENGER LITE INSTEAD - Wired.
• Ditching Zoom? Here Are 10 Video Chat Alternatives You Can Use Instead - "There are plenty of video chat services to choose from, whether it's to talk to grandma, play games with friends or connect with colleagues."
• Do TikTok & WeChat pose real threats to national security? - "President Donald Trump made good on his threat to crack down on two popular Chinese-owned social media apps - TikTok & WeChat - on grounds of national security, issuing executive orders that would ban the apps in 45 days if they are not sold by their parent companies."
• Do You Ever Ignore Text Messages? - "Is choosing not to respond to texts, emails and other digital messages rude? Or is it sometimes necessary?"
• Easiest Ways to Sync iMessages Across All Your Devices - "If your iMessages aren't syncing from your iPhone to your other devices, here's the fix."
• Elon Musk may want a WeChat for the world. It won’t be easy to build - "Elon Musk is taking inspiration from China’s top social media platform, WeChat, while planning a future for Twitter. And while he has shared very few details of his ambition for an app for everything, experts say it won’t be easy to achieve."
• emoji - since 1999. Are ideograms and smileys used in electronic messages and web pages. Emoji exist in various genres, including facial expressions, common objects, places and types of weather, and animals. They are much like emoticons, but emoji are actual pictures instead of typographics.
• Every new iMessage feature coming to your iPhone in iOS 18 - "You can bold, italicize, underline, and strikethrough words in the Messages app with iOS 18. You can also apply animated effects to any letter, word, phrase, or emoji. For example, you can make content appear bigger or smaller, or have it 'explode' or 'nod,' and much more."
• Everyone you know uses Zoom. That wasn't the plan - "Zoom grew into a vastly profitable business selling software to businesses that could enable a venture capital firm to seamlessly take virtual pitch meetings from around the globe or an executive to deliver an all-hands to a remote workforce."
• Facebook & Google are coming for Zoom - "If there's one company the pandemic has turned into a household name, it's Zoom. Amid the continued state lockdowns, the video conferencing platform has become a lifeline for schools and businesses and a gathering place for virtual cocktail hours, birthday parties, workout classes and even weddings. And that hasn't escaped the notice of some of the world's biggest technology companies, including Facebook and Google."
• Facebook Goes To War With Zoom, Introduces 50-Person Chat Feature - "Facebook is adding a new feature that lets users video chat with up to 50 people, a direct challenge to video conferencing apps Zoom and Houseparty, both of which have seen usage skyrocket amid the coronavirus pandemic."
• Facebook has a coronavirus problem. It's WhatsApp - "Governments and medical officials are scrambling to provide the public with accurate and timely information about the novel coronavirus. But those efforts are being undermined by the spread of medical misinformation and fake cures on one of the world's most popular messaging platforms."
• Facebook’s New Gadget Is a Video-Chat Screen With a Camera That Follows You - "On Monday, Facebook introduced Portal and Portal Plus, the fruits of its first major foray into designing, building and selling consumer hardware from scratch."
• Facebook’s New Zoom Competitor Adds Virtual Reality to Conference Calls. Here’s What It’s Like - "As the vague buzzword 'metaverse' snowballs into reality, today Facebook unveiled an intriguing peek into its plans for a collaborative online future. Facebook released a free beta for Horizon Workrooms, a 'mixed reality' meeting tool that the tech giant is calling its 'flagship collaboration experience.' Seemingly poised to compete with other remote communication platforms like Zoom and Google Meet, Workrooms offers something different: a virtual reality gathering space for business meetings and general productivity, built around the Oculus Quest 2."
• For millions, the WhatsApp outage could have been a matter of life & death - "Social media is a lifeline in many countries, and Facebook must do more to protect its systems from routine failures."
• For Mobile Messaging, GIFs Prove to Be Worth at Least a Thousand Words - The New York Times.
• Full stop falling out of fashion thanks to instant messaging - The Telegraph.
• Google Meet - video-communication service developed by Google. It is one of two apps that constitute the replacement for Google Hangouts, the other being Google Chat. Google planned to begin retiring Google Hangouts in October 2019.
• Google’s Hangouts Meet is now just Google Meet - "Google has rebranded its videoconferencing service."
• Google’s Reply app is woefully bland - The Verge.
• Green texts in iMessages nudge teens to use iPhones - "Apple's color-coding of SMS communications in green in iMessage plays a role alongside other feature in getting teenagers to switch from Android to iPhone, a report claims, with a pressure to fit in with their peers promoting moves to turn their messages blue."
• Hidden tricks to customize the new Messages design in iOS 17 - "One of the more noticeable design changes in iOS 17 this year is in the Messages app. Apple has revamped the interface and moved access to iMessage apps and shortcuts to a new pop-up menu. Here’s a closer look at these changes, with a trick to get one-tap access to the Photos picker."
• How I hosted my first charity stream, and how you can host one, too - "So you’ve decided to charity stream."
• How Is Everyone Making Those A.I. Selfies? - "Images generated with Lensa AI are all over social media, but at what cost?"
• how lockdown has triggered a wave of sexting - "From celebrities posting nude photographs to ordinary women sharing erotic challenges with each other, getting risqué online has become a welcome distraction."
• How signal became the messaging app for an age of fear & distrust - "The Inside Story of How Signal Became the Private Messaging App for an Age of Fear and Distrust."
• How smart are Gmail’s ‘smart replies’? - "When Seamas O’Reilly responded to all his emails for a week using only Smart Reply, our columnist’s messages suddenly became spookily jaunty. Did his friends spot the difference?"
• How Telegram Became the Anti-Facebook - "Hundreds of millions of users. No algorithm. No ads. Courage in the face of autocracy. Sound like a dream? Careful what you wish for."
• How texting makes stress worse - "If group chats give us solace and connection in a crisis, why do some of us feel burnt out and overwhelmed by them?"
• How TikTok Found Itself in the Middle of a U.S.-China Tech War - "First they went after Huawei. Then it was gummy bears singing Adele. TikTok–the social-media platform where primarily Gen Z users share dance routines and zany memes involving crooning fruit candies and the like–has become the latest flash point in the escalating tech war between the U.S. and China, with President Donald Trump threatening on July 31 to ban the app on national-security grounds."
• HOW TO BACK UP ALL THE TEXT MESSAGES ON YOUR IPHONE - Wired.
• How to become a wine connoisseur on Zoom - "With many retailers offering online tastings and masterclasses, the lockdown presents a rare opportunity to swot up on viniculture."
• How to create stickers on the iPhone using your photos in iOS 17 - "You can even send animated stickers with Live Photos in iMessage."
• How to Emoji-Flirt Like a Real Teenager - Wired.
• How to enable or disable messages by category in Google Messages - "Categories not your thing? Disable them."
• How to Keep Your Zoom Chats Private & Secure - "Trolls. Prying bosses. Zoom's a great video chat platform, but a few simple steps also make it a safe one."
• How to look your best on a video call - "Five tips for looking (and sounding) great."
• How to Make WhatsApp Voice & Video Calls From Your Laptop - "WhatsApp is more than just a text chat service - you’ve been able to use it to make voice and video calls for as long as I can remember. In fact, WhatsApp has even bolstered its video chat capabilities during amid these cheery pandemic times, and now allows you to converse with up to 50 people at a time. But you still have to do it via the mobile app, which isn’t nearly as useful as being able to do the same things on a desktop app."
• How to save text messages on iOS & Android - "We are all one phone crash away from losing valuable files."
• HOW TO SAVE TEXT MESSAGES ON YOUR IPHONE - Wired.
• How to secure your video calls like a pro - "Zoom me, maybe."
• How to Send WhatsApp Messages Without Typing on Android, iOS - "You can use your voice to send WhatsApp messages, without typing."
• How to set up a Slack account - The Verge.
• How to Stop WhatsApp From Giving Facebook Your Phone Number - Wired.
• HOW TO TURN OFF SNAPCHAT’S STALKERISH SNAP MAP FEATURE - Wired.
• How to turn your digital camera or iPhone into a powerful webcam - "Level up your Zoom meetings, Twitch streams, and even Skype calls by shifting away from the built-in webcam in favor of a better camera."
• How to use FaceTime for group calls - "Yes, you can FaceTime more than one person at a time."
• How to use iOS 15’s new Live Text feature - "A guide to Apple’s new OCR feature."
• How to Use Slack Without Driving Your Coworkers Crazy - "Many of us use it at work, but here are some tips on how to make Slack work for you. (Stop. Hitting. Enter. So. Often.)"
• How to use Snap Camera to become a cat (or anything else) on Zoom - "The Snap Camera app lets you use a bunch of wonderful filters."
• How to Use Snapchat: Critical Tips for New Users - Wired.
• How to use the new Messages features in iOS 17 - "Messages gets a redesign and some helpful new tools."
• How to use your high-end camera as a webcam - "If you’re lucky, you might not need to buy anything extra."
• How to use your iPhone or Android as a webcam: It's actually simple - "If you're looking for an easy and cost-effective way to upgrade your work-from-home setup, you can use your phone to improve the video quality on video chat apps such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet. Here's how."
• How WeChat came to rule China - The Verge.
• I text myself all day every day & you should, too - "Messaging yourself reminders, to-do lists, links, and photos is the fastest way you’ll find to make sure everything is searchable and cross-platform."
• In The Age Of Zoom Happy Hours, Addiction Treatment Goes Online Too - "Drinking has gone digital. As the Covid-19 pandemic shuttered restaurants and bars and grounded everyone at home, Zoom happy hours have become the new venue to catch up with friends and blow off steam."
• Instagram brings back classic icons to celebrate its tenth birthday - "The Polaroids are back."
• INSTAGRAM LAUNCHES REELS, ITS ATTEMPT TO KEEP YOU OFF TIKTOK - "‘No two products are exactly alike, and ours are not either’."
• Instagram offers access to DMs on the web - "It's a limited test for now."
• Instagram Reels: Facebook’s history of ‘adapting’ competitors’ familiar features - "The tech company, in the midst of antitrust hearings in Congress, has come under fire for cloning other companies’ products before."
• Instagram tips & tricks - "How to make photo collage in Instagram story."
• Instagram’s latest assault on Snapchat is a messaging app called Threads - "The app promotes sharing your status, location, and more with your closest friends."
• Instant messaging | IM - online chat which offers real-time text transmission over the Internet.
• iOS 15: Here’s everything new in FaceTime - "FaceTime is one of the key apps receiving a lot of love from Apple in iOS 15. With the new operating system now available for iPhone users, people are able to join the conversation with friends on Android and Windows, and so much more. Here’s everything new in FaceTime."
• iOS 17: How to use iOS 17's Check In feature in iMessage to let friends know you got home safe - "The function automates the old 'text me when you get home' safety check."
• iOS 17 imessages apps: hidden tricks to customize the new design - "Two ways to optimize Apple’s redesigned iMessage apps experience in iOS 17."
• iOS 18: How to Make Your iPhone Messages Bold, Underlined & More in iOS 18 - "Can you use more than one text effect? You can also give your message a little flair by making the words explode, shake and more: 1. Open Messages. 2. Tap into a chat. 3. Tap the text box. 4. Write your message in full. 5. Highlight the word or words you want to add an effect to. 6. Tap the A with dashes on its left side, which can be found above the P on the keyboard. 7. Tap the formatting options or text effect you want to use."
• iOS 18’s new iMessage features make me wish everyone I know had an iPhone - "iOS 18 will introduce several new features to iMessage, including ways to highlight specific words, add any emoji or sticker to messages through the Tapback menu, and also schedule messages to be sent at a specific time."
• iPhone Notes: You Can Use Your iPhone Notes App to Send Secret Messages - "There's a handy tool to facilitate private conversations, and it's built right into your iPhone: To communicate, simply type something into the note, which the other person will be able to see in real-time without you having to hit send. They'll also receive a notification any time the note is altered."
• Is it rude not to reply to text ASAP? - "The crippling expectation of 24/7 digital availability. You sent a text - but it’s been an hour, and your friend hasn’t replied to your message yet. Why are you so angry about it?"
• Is it time to leave WhatsApp - and is Signal the answer? - "The Facebook-owned messaging service has been hit by a global backlash over privacy. Many users are migrating to Signal or Telegram. Should you join them?"
• It's been 25 years since the first SMS message was sent - December 3, 1992.
• Jitsi - collection of free and open-source multiplatform voice (VoIP), videoconferencing and instant messaging applications for the web platform, Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS and Android.
• It's not about the green bubbles, Apple - "Apple's iMessage has a well-documented history of separating people into "blue" and "green" bubbles based on whether they're using an iPhone or Android phone. But that problem is now far bigger than just looking cool in our group chats."
• Lego’s new Minifigure Factory lets you create a $12 minifig of yourself - "Customize your very own minifigure."
• Make your WhatsApp messages disappear; Know how to - "You can make your messages disappear by enabling the WhatsApp Disappearing Messages feature on the app on both iPhone and Android."
• MARK ZUCKERBERG ON HOW VIDEO CHAT NEEDS TO EVOLVE FOR THE PANDEMIC - "Facebook’s CEO on building Rooms now, virtual reality later, and the massive acceleration in virtual connections."
• Memoji - Memoji is a new feature in iOS 12 that allows users to customize a 3D avatar in an emoji-like style. Requires iPhone X (2017) or above running iOS 12.0. Each Memoji can be sent as a static sticker or video with audio in a similar fashion to the existing Animoji functionality.
• Messenger Rooms are Facebook’s answer to Zoom & Houseparty for the pandemic - "Facebook is greatly expanding its video chat offerings to keep up with rising demand."
• Microsoft Teams - Wikipedia.
• Microsoft Teams is adding Maybelline’s AI-powered ‘makeup’ filters - "The Maybelline Beauty app adds 12 AI-powered ‘digital makeup’ looks for Teams Enterprise users to apply during meetings."
• Microsoft Teams now lets you upload your own photos as background images on video calls - "Hide that messy home office with any image you choose."
• Mmhmm turns your boring Zoom call into a Weekend Update-style TV show - "The next generation of videoconferencing is now in beta."
• NAH HE TWEAKIN - the phrase basically means "he's crazy."
• new Microsoft Teams is here with big performance improvements & UI changes - "Microsoft Teams has been totally overhauled to run faster and have a more simplified interface."
• Online chat - refer to any kind of communication over the Internet that offers a real-time transmission of text messages from sender to receiver.
• Pavel Durov: A Russian Elon Musk with 100 biological children: Meet Pavel Durov - "Pavel Durov, the elusive founder of Telegram, is a lot of things to a lot of people. Programming prodigy. Billionaire entrepreneur. Kremlin stooge. Free-speech fighter. Biological father to at least 100 kids."
• People are texting phone numbers identical to their own, with one key difference. Meet the 'number neighbor' - "Knock knock. Who's there? It's your (number) neighbor! Could this be the beginning of a beautiful friendship?"
• Personal message - "Personal message, private message (PM), direct message (DM), or personal chat (PC) is a private form of messaging between different members on a given platform. It is only seen and accessible by the users participating in the message. It has grown popular because of the increasing demand for privacy and collaboration in this society where the public sharing domain dominates."
• Queen takes part in first ever video call for royal duties - "The 94-year-old British monarch and her daughter Princess Anne spoke to a group of carers to mark Carers Week, according to a post from the official Royal Family Twitter account on Thursday."
• Real-time text | RTT - text transmitted instantly as it is being typed or created. Recipients can immediately read the message while it is being written, without waiting.
• Riot.im - free and open-source software instant messaging client based on the Matrix protocol and is distributed under the Apache License 2.0. Because it uses the federated Matrix protocol, Riot.im lets the user choose a server to connect to. Additionally, Riot.im supports end-to-end encryption, groups, channels and sharing of files between users. It is available as a web application, as desktop apps for all major operating systems and as a mobile app for Android and iOS.
• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been banned from Instagram - "Instagram on Wednesday took down the account of controversial anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr."
• Signal, secure messaging app: a guide for beginners - Freedom of the Press Foundation.
• Should Grown Men Use Emoji? - The New York Times.
• Should you delete TikTok? Here’s what experts say about the app Trump wants to ban - "With the US government considering banning the China-based video-sharing app, here’s what you need to know."
• Should you keep using WhatsApp? Plus five tips to start the year with your digital privacy intact - "We spoke to convicted hacker turned security consultant Kevin Mitnick to find out how to maintain your security online."
• Should You Reconsider Using WhatsApp After the Jeff Bezos Hack? Probably Not - TIME Magazine.
• Signal adds mainstream chat features to lure wider audience - "It not just about secure messaging anymore."
• Signal, WhatsApp & Telegram: Here's which secure messaging app you should use - "Looking for a more secure messaging app? We break down the key differences between three of the most popular apps, including the one Elon Musk recommends."
• Skype rolls out 'Meet Now' calls that don't need a sign-up or installation - "Is this enough to pull anyone away from Zoom?"
• SKYPE STRUGGLES HAVE CREATED A ZOOM MOMENT - "Skype is missing out to Zoom and others during the coronavirus pandemic."
• Slack is ruining my life and I love it - CNN Business.
• Slack Wants to Replace Email. Is That What We Want? - "As the office chat start-up prepares to go public, some of us are still figuring out how available we want to be - and whether it’s O.K. to ping the C.E.O."
• Snapchat creators earn serious money from making AR filters - CNN Business.
• Snapchat stock loses $1.3 billion after Kylie Jenner tweet - CNN Tech.
• Sneaky WhatsApp trick lets you quietly leave group chats WITHOUT alerting everyone - "Going out with friends, shared interests or a family reuniuon? If the inevitable 'hey, let's make a WhatsApp group' and the impending deluge of notifications and emojis fills you with dread... there is a handy escape you can use without stepping on too many toes."
• Software and protocols - Wikipedia.
• Telegram Became a Playground for Criminals, Extremists & Terrorists - "Drug dealers, scammers and white nationalists openly conduct business and spread toxic speech on the platform, according to a Times analysis of more than 3.2 million Telegram messages."
• Telegram: 'The dark web in your pocket' - "'There is no doubt that criminality is happening on other social networks too, but my experiment hints at a broader problem that many in law enforcement have been concerned about for years. Here is a flavour of some of the groups to which I have found myself added.'"
• Telegram’s Premium subscription is here & it costs $4.99 / month - "Introducing bigger uploads, faster downloads, and exclusive stickers."
• Text messages that end in a period seen as less sincere - ScienceDaily.
• Text Messaging Is Cool. But Where Are Its Boundaries? - "Apple and Google have added useful features to texting apps, yet the apps still lack a major component: an effective way to set limits."
• Text Your Friends. It Matters More Than You Think - "New research says most of us underestimate the power of the casual check-in."
• The big legal questions behind Trump’s TikTok & WeChat bans - "A symbolic gesture that could still cause real problems."
• The lost art of having a chat: what happened when I stopped texting & started talking - "We are more connected than ever, but we rarely seem to really speak to each other. So, Rebecca Nicholson decided to try."
• The parrot problem: why Zoom calls are forcing people to abandon their pets - "During lockdown, a lot of people found it hard being trapped at home with a noisy bird that never shuts up - and rehoming is tricky as some of them really don’t like women."
• The plastic surgery 'Zoom Boom' - "Why plastic-surgery demand is booming amid lockdown. Lockdown and remote work have meant hours of staring at our own faces on video calls - and prompted interest in going under the knife."
• The Real Threat To America Raised By TikTok Isn't Privacy - "The larger challenge for America highlighted by TikTok’s popularity is that ByteDance has come up with a video-sharing app that’s taken the world by storm and that didn’t come from Silicon Valley."
• The safest messaging apps - "Not all encrypted messaging apps are the same."
• The secret WhatsApp mode that lets you EDIT texts after you've sent them - "Have you ever fired off a witty WhatsApp retort only to spot a glaring typo in your text? Or perhaps you've had second thoughts after finally declaring your undying love, or telling your boss exactly what you think of them? Worry not, a new WhatsApp mode that allows you to edit your messages - after you've sent them - could prove the very solution to those awkward moments."
• The single most valuable writing skill - "How mastering this will make your writing compelling and authoritative."
• The Telegram Billionaire & His Dark Empire - "Telegram is one of the world's most popular chat apps - and possibly the most dangerous. There is little regulation of the platform, which is popular with criminals and terrorists. Who is the mastermind behind it?"
• The tyranny of messaging & notifications - The Verge.
• The unstoppable rise of 'ghosting' - "Why workers and employers are ghosting each other. Rather than sending a withdrawal or rejection email, workers and employers are simply cutting off contact during the hiring process. Are we stuck in a ‘ghosting’ spiral?"
• The way we text says a lot about our personality - "Does using lowercase letters really make you seem more chill?"
• The Wired Guide to Your Personal Data (and Who Is Using It) - Wired.
• This LED desk lamp gave me the best lighting for video calls - "It even has two USB charging ports, too."
• This Secret Smartphone Feature Can Help You Write Text Messages Much More Quickly - TIME Magazine.
• TikTok Audio Memes Are Everywhere. How Do They Work? - "Welcome to the era of the audio meme, a time when replicable units of sound are a cultural currency as strong as - if not stronger than - images and text."
• TikTok Became a Diplomatic Crisis - "A Chinese app conquered the planet - and now the U.S. is threatening to shut it down. Can the world’s biggest virality machine survive?"
• TikTok: Beneath Its Fun Exterior Lies A Sinister Purpose - "Three years since TikTok was launched, the video-sharing social network grown rapidly to accumulate more than two billion downloads, one of the most popular apps of the moment, beating even Instagram or YouTube in consumption time in the United States, United Kingdom or Spain, particularly among younger age segments."
• TikTok: From gummy bears to national security threat - "The story of a social media giant. President Donald Trump has warned that he will ban TikTok unless an American firm buys its US operations. So how did an app attract millions of users but come to be seen as a national security risk in just two years?"
• TikTok: the Chinese lip-syncing app taking over America - "A video-sharing app is has become the most popular free app on the App Store in the US."
• TikTok to launch legal action against Trump over ban - "Chinese video app TikTok is set to launch legal action to challenge a ban imposed by US President Donald Trump."
• TikTok users are jumping to these other apps - "With TikTok's future uncertain, users are jumping to these other apps."
• TikTok’s 7 Highest-Earning Stars - "Meet the social media celebrities who each earned more than $1 million posting short videos on the app that President Trump loves to hate."
• TikTok’s In-App Browser Includes Code That Can Monitor Your Keystrokes, Researcher Says - "When TikTok users enter a website through a link on the app, TikTok inserts code that can monitor much of their activity on those outside websites, including their keystrokes and whatever they tap on the page, according to new research shared with Forbes."
• Tinder's Face to Face video chats launch globally - "The feature helps bridge the gap between a text chat and a live date."
• Trillian (software) - proprietary multiprotocol instant messaging application created by Cerulean Studios. It is currently available for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Android, iOS, BlackBerry OS, and the Web. It can connect to multiple IM services, such as AIM, Bonjour, Facebook Messenger, Google Talk (Hangouts), IRC, XMPP (Jabber), VZ, and Yahoo! Messenger networks; as well as social networking sites, such as Facebook, Foursquare, LinkedIn, and Twitter; and email services, such as POP3 and IMAP. Trillian no longer supports Windows Live Messenger or Skype as these services have combined and Microsoft chose to discontinue Skypekit.
• True Private Messaging - 7 Apps to Encrypt Your Chats.
• Trump says he will ban TikTok - "President Donald Trump said Friday night that he will ban the popular short-form video app TikTok from operating in the United States, rejecting a potential deal for Microsoft to buy the app from its Chinese-owned parent company."
• Trump's knee-jerk reaction to TikTok - "TikTok and WeChat may raise security concerns, but Trump's knee-jerk reaction isn't the way to deal with them."
• Trump's WeChat ban shocks Chinese abroad - "For the global Chinese community, WeChat is more than a chat app: it is often the primary means of staying in touch with friends and family back home."
• Twitter is shutting down its Periscope apps - "Periscope’s apps will be shut down by March 2021. Twitter will, however, continue to offer live video streaming through its integrated Twitter Live feature within the main Twitter app."
• US DECLARED WAR ON TIKTOK BECAUSE IT CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH - "The latest twist is a deeply confusing set of executive orders banning transactions with ByteDance (TikTok’s Chinese parent company) and WeChat (a Chinese texting app). The legal dubiousness of this move is the least strange thing about it."
• Video calls are coming to Instagram - The Verge.
• Videotelephony - Wikipedia.
• Virtual meetings can crush creativity, new study finds - "Collaboration has been behind some of humanity's greatest achievements - the Beatles' biggest hits, putting a man on the moon, the smartphone. Do Zoom and other forms of video interaction crush the creative process that led to such feats? Yes, according to new research published Wednesday that found it's easier to come up with creative ideas in person."
• Watch some of TikTok's biggest moments - "While TikTok's future remains uncertain, there's no denying the cultural impact the app has already made. Here's a look back at some of the platform's biggest trends from Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road' to the pandemic-themed 'Bored in the House.'"
• Web conferencing - Wikipedia.
• WeChat breaks 700 million monthly active users - Business Insider.
• What happens when WhatsApp’s new terms start on 15 May? - "Messaging app will begin to turn off features until users agree to Facebook’s updated terms of service."
• What makes a message live forever? - "The messages that survived civilisation's collapse. The Sumerians, Maya and other ancient cultures created texts that have lasted hundreds and even thousands of years. Here's what they can teach us about crafting an immortal message."
• What the Telegram founder’s arrest means for the regulation of social media firms - "Pavel Durov’s detention by French authorities is a major break from the norm - but his low-moderation, non-encrypted app is an anomaly."
• What's wrong with WhatsApp - "As social media has become more inhospitable, the appeal of private online groups has grown. But they hold their own dangers - to those both inside and out."
• WhatsApp Backlash - Stop Using Signal Or Telegram Until You Change These 4 Critical Settings - "Telegram and Signal continue to surge following WhatsApp’s privacy backlash—tens of millions of you are now using these messengers for the first time. But, just like WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal have critical settings you must change before you start using the apps. Here’s what you need to do now."
• WhatsApp can now automatically silence unknown callers - "The update also introduces 'Privacy Checkup' to let users fine-tune privacy settings."
• WhatsApp debuts coronavirus fact-checking hub - "The company also donated $1 million to support fact-checking organizations."
• WhatsApp Discovered Malware That Infects Phones With a Missed Call - "Spyware crafted by an 'advanced cyber actor,' reportedly an Israeli company, infected multiple targeted mobile phones through WhatsApp's in-app voice calls."
• WhatsApp discovers 'targeted' surveillance attack - "Hackers were able to remotely install surveillance software on phones and other devices using a major vulnerability in messaging app WhatsApp, it has been confirmed."
• WhatsApp is letting us slink off with dignity intact, at last - "On Tuesday, WhatsApp announced new privacy features that will allow users to leave group chats without sending notifications to all members - and to control who sees when they are active on the app. These features are a reminder to all of us that we need to be more thoughtful about the ways in which we're letting technology control our lives."
• WhatsApp issues urgent advice to avoid new iPhone & Android threat - "Anyone using WhatsApp must make sure their chat app is fully updated after an issue was discovered that could let hackers access personal information."
• WhatsApp Just Stopped Working For Millions Of iPhone And Android Users, Here’s What To Do - "As of today (February 1), WhatsApp will stop working on millions of iPhones and Android devices running older operating systems. Smartphones affected are those on Apple iOS 8 or earlier and devices using Google Android 2.3.7 Gingerbread or prior versions."
• WhatsApp launches new disappearing messages option - "A new option to wipe chat messages after seven days."
• WhatsApp lets you use custom wallpapers for each chat - "It also launched improved sticker searches and a new animated WHO sticker pack."
• WhatsApp loses millions of users after terms update - "Poorly-executed change to terms of service sends messaging app’s subscribers flocking to competitors."
• WhatsApp: Mark Zuckerberg reveals new privacy features - "Users will be able to leave group chats silently, control who can see their online status and block screenshots on View Once messages."
• WhatsApp now has 2 billion users - "And it has no plans to drop end-to-end encryption."
• WhatsApp Soundly Beaten By Stunning New Alternative - Forbes.
• Whatsapp starts rolling out two-factor authentication - engadget.
• WhatsApp Soundly Beaten By Apple’s Stunning New iMessage Update - "WhatsApp, the world’s leading messenger with 2 billion users sending 100 billion messages each day, popularized secure messaging. But if you’re one of the hundreds of millions using WhatsApp on an iPhone, you’re in for an unwelcome surprise when you see Apple’s stunning new iMessage update."
• WhatsApp tightens limits on message forwarding to counter coronavirus misinformation - "WhatsApp is trying to stem the rapid spread of coronavirus misinformation by placing new limits on the number of times a forwarded message can be shared simultaneously."
• WhatsApp to allow users to edit messages within 15 minutes - "A move that will see it match a feature offered by competitors like Telegram and Signal."
• WhatsApp to stop working on millions of phones - "Messaging service WhatsApp will no longer work on millions of smartphones from 1 February."
• WhatsApp Upgrade Warning: Here’s What 2 Billion Users Need To Know - "Users are now being exposed to a recurring security risk. That risk revolves around a warning that spread about a malicious WhatsApp message that first appeared back in 2016. The warning, which spread virally as these things have a habit of doing, involved a supposed WhatsApp invitation to upgrade to WhatsApp Gold. Accept the invite, and users would be asked to click a download link, which in turn would install malware on their device."
• WhatsApp users can see who’s blocked them on Android and iPhone - here's how - "WhatsApp has a few tell-tale signs that help you see if you've been blocked by someone on iPhone or Android."
• WhatsApp Users To Get This Killer New Update: Just Perfect Timing - "The issue for users right now is the limit on the number of people who can join in a video call—currently just four. But that’s about to change. As discovered by the ever vigilant beta code detectives at WABetaInfo, the number of callers is about to increase. The code to expand video calling is buried in both the beta iOS and Android apps, so it’s a change for everyone, but only if all callers have the latest version of the app installed once it’s released."
• WhatsApp Users To Get This Radical New Update: Just Perfect Timing - "This next update is the most radical, stretching the bounds of end-to-end encryption and forcing decisions as to how WhatsApp handles the secure storage of our message and media histories."
• WhatsApp’s Ground-Breaking Feature Suddenly Returns - "On June 18, 2020, WhatsApp announced a brilliant new feature: the capability to transfer money using the app. It launched but was quickly stopped. Now, it’s back."
• Why do diplomats use this alien WhatsApp emoji for Vladimir Putin? - The Guardian.
• Why Google can't stop making messaging apps - engadget.
• Why I turned on iMessage "Encrypted chat is a moral imperative."
• Why is video conferencing so exhausting? - "Zoom fatigue is a real thing."
• Why You Should Never Use This ‘Dangerous’ WhatsApp Setting On Your Phone - "Tens of millions of you are now moving from WhatsApp to Telegram and Signal - with many using these apps for the first time. Beware, though, as this is a serious security issue. The latest threat to your WhatsApp messages may seem to be a useful setting, but it has an alarming, hidden risk. Here’s what you must not do."
• Why You Should Stop Sending SMS Messages - Even On Apple iMessage - "Last month, I advised users to stop using Facebook Messenger and switch to its stablemate WhatsApp. The reason is simple - security. This led to people asking me about Apple iMessage and SMS - including Google Messages, and whether these are secure to use. The answer is not as simple as you might like."
• Why You Should Stop Using This ‘Dangerous’ WhatsApp Setting On Your iPhone - "When you come to move your WhatsApp account from your old device to your new one, you’ll be directed to use WhatsApp’s iCloud backup option to transfer your message history, media and settings. But those backups are not protected by WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption. It’s a serious privacy and security vulnerability - one that rivals iMessage and Signal have resolved."
• Why we can't stop waving at the end of video calls - "Why did we all start waving? Experts have several explanations. As video calling becomes a default way of communicating during the pandemic, people adjust and adapt their behaviors accordingly -- plus they're craving more of a human connection."
• Why we’re obsessed with Zoom backdrops: from Anna Wintour to Meryl Streep - "The pandemic has forced us to make our private spaces into public ones. Here’s how to get it right."
• Why You Should Stop Using WhatsApp Until You Change These 3 Critical Settings - "Malicious WhatsApp hacks are making news again this week, with more users tricked into surrendering their accounts to attackers who then target their contacts with malware and financial scams. WhatsApp is not as secure as you might think - but it does offer safeguards to stop your account being hijacked this way. You need to change your settings, and you should do that today."
• Why You Should Stop Using Your Facebook Messenger App - "If you’re one of Facebook Messenger’s 1.3 billion users, then the sudden WhatsApp backlash should serve as a stark warning. Yes, Messenger’s data harvesting is significantly more alarming than WhatsApp’s. But, worse, there’s now another serious new problem that may convince you to leave."
• Why Zoom became so popular - "Its selling points also introduce privacy and security risks."
• World's First-ever SMS Wishing ‘Merry Christmas' Up for Auction as an NFT - "The short message, consisting of just 15 letters, reads 'Merry Christmas' and was sent to Vodafone's director in December 1992."
• YOU CAN SEND INVISIBLE MESSAGES WITH SUBTLE FONT TWEAKS - Wired.
• You Can Still Use WhatsApp - But Change These 3 Critical Settings First - "If you’re a WhatsApp user, you will have seen the alarming stories warning about the messaging platform’s surprise privacy changes, many suggesting you switch to alternatives. The good news is you don’t need to do that - WhatsApp is still okay to use. The bad news, though, is that you do need to change these critical setting to stay safe."
• You’re Still on Mute - "Hybrid or remote work is settling in as a permanent reality for millions. Their setups and technical skills can still feel like a temporary solution."
• YouTube is finally letting creators know exactly how they’re making money on YouTube - "A new metric called RPM pulls in multiple revenue sources."
• YouTube’s New Messenger Means You’ll Never Have to Leave YouTube - Wired.
• Yubo - French social networking app designed to "make new friends" and creating a sense of community. It was launched by TWELVE APP in 2015 and is available on iOS and Android. Geared towards teenagers and young adults aged 13 to 25, the app allows users to create video livestreams with up to 10 friends. The app has more than 25 million users worldwide.
• Zoom backgrounds that make you look more - or less - trustworthy, according to experts - "To inspire the most trust in those you interact with during video meetings, ensure you have plants or books strategically positioned behind you. That’s according to new research, which looks at how people’s choice of Zoom background could be helping or hindering them."
• Zoom booms as teleconferencing company profits from coronavirus crisis - "The teleconferencing company made $27m in the first quarter and expects sales to double despite security and privacy fears."
• Zoom Face: How To Look (and Feel) Your Best On Those Constant Video Calls - Forbes.
• Zoom is being sued for allegedly handing over data to Facebook - "A Zoom user has filed a class-action lawsuit against the video-conferencing company for passing on data to third parties like Facebook without properly notifying users."
• ZOOM IS GIVING FANDOMS A NEW PLACE TO HANG - "Fans are using Zoom to connect with people they’ve never met before."
• ‘Zoom is malware’: why experts worry about the video conferencing platform - "The company has seen a 535% rise in daily traffic in the past month, but security researchers say the app is a ‘privacy disaster’."
• Zoom is now 'the Facebook of video apps' - "Yet another startup that takes our privacy. Seriously."
• Zoom paid accounts reportedly will get strong encryption for calls - "End-to-end encryption won’t be coming to all customers’ video calls, however."
• Zoom Promises To Do Better After Banning Tiananmen Square Protests - Then Builds Tech To Help China’s Censorship - "Already under fire for security lapses and facing scrutiny over its links to China, Zoom made the startling decision earlier this month to ban three users organizing memorials to mark the Tiananmen Square massacre at the request of Beijing. It’s now reversed the decision, according to a company post released late Thursday. But it’s still going to help China block accounts of users in the country."
• Zoom releases security updates in response to 'Zoom-bombings' - "Company has struggled to meet security needs as user base has risen sharply amid coronavirus lockdown."
• Zoom shares encription keys with China - "Zoom, the videoconferencing giant that’s been both hero and villain of the coronavirus age, sends user data to China, according to researchers."
• 'Zoom shirt': how the pandemic changed work dress codes - "Home working has relaxed work attire but even as many return to the office some trends could be here to stay."
• Zoom updates iOS app to remove code that sent device data to Facebook - "Users should update to the latest version."
• Zoom will provide end-to-end encryption to all users after privacy backlash - "Civil rights groups decried plan to exclude free calls from video calling app’s encryption services."
• Zoom will soon let you report meeting participants to help bust Zoombombers - "The feature will be available starting April 26th."
• Zoom's End-to-End Encryption Will Be for Paying Customers Only - "The videoconferencing company says it wants to be able to work with law enforcement to catch bad actors on its platform."
• 'Zoombombing' targeted with new version of app - "Zoom has said it will release an improved version of its hugely popular video conferencing app this week."
• Zoomed out: how can we politely tell people we’d rather not chat? - "Video fatigue is real, writes advice columnist Eleanor Gordon-Smith, and now is a good time to be candid about emotional needs."
• Zumping: the rise of Zoom breakups - "The search for love continues - and so does the ending of once-promising relationships. Now, though, all this is happening via videoconference."

Top 40 Instant Messaging | (Video) Chat Services | Videotelephony

• Adium - since 2001. Free and open source instant messaging client for OS X that supports multiple IM networks, including Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, Google Talk, AIM, ICQ and XMPP.
• AIM - since 1997. "Chat, Share, Connect. Chat with your friends on AIM, Facebook, Google Talk." Instant messaging and presence computer program which uses the proprietary OSCAR instant messaging protocol and the TOC protocol to allow registered users to communicate in real time.
• Any Meeting - since 1995. "Video Conferencing. FREE Until 2021." Intermedia AnyMeeting™ is a powerful online meeting solution built for businesses of all sizes. Our easy to use meeting experience is available on desktop and mobile devices so that you can have reliable, stress free meetings anywhere, anytime. With the highest HD audio and video quality, interactive collaboration tools and artificial intelligence capabilities, AnyMeeting transforms communications with a smarter, faster, engaging and actionable meetings experience.
• BeReal - since 2020. "Your Daily Dose of Real Life. Meaningful connections. Spontaneous moments. Authentic real life." Everyday get a notification to share a genuine glimpse into your real life with the people you care most about. Main feature is a daily notification that encourages users to share photos with friends of themselves and their day to day life given a randomly selected two-minute window every day.
• BigBlueButton - since 2020. "Engage Your Online Students." BigBlueButton is a web conferencing system designed for online learning. Looking for a professional solution for teaching remote students online? BigBlueButton provides real-time sharing of audio, video, slides, chat, and screen. Students are engaged through sharing of emoji icons, polling, and breakout rooms. Open-source web conferencing system. It is based on GNU/Linux operating system and runs on Ubuntu 16.04. In addition to various web conferencing services, it has integrations for many of the major learning and content management systems. BigBlueButton supports multiple audio and video sharing, presentations with extended whiteboard capabilities - such as a pointer, zooming and drawing - public and private chat, desktop sharing, integrated VoIP using FreeSWITCH, and support for presentation of PDF documents and Microsoft Office documents. Moreover, users may enter the conference in one of two roles: viewer or moderator.
• BlueJeans - since 2009. "Stay Connected." Simple. Smart. Trusted. Empower Your Remote Workforce with Secure Video Conferencing. By Verizon is a company that provides an interoperable cloud-based video conferencing service that connects participants across a wide range of devices and conferencing platforms.
• Confide - since 2013. "Your Confidential Messenger." Communicate digitally with the same level of privacy and security as the spoken word. With encrypted, self-destructing, and screenshot-proof messages, Confide gives you the comfort of knowing that your private communication will now truly stay that way. Retake Control of your Digital Conversations and Communicate with Confidence. Discuss sensitive topics, brainstorm ideas or give unfiltered opinions without fear of the Internet’s permanent, digital record and with no copies left behind.
• Discord - since 2015. "A new way to chat with your communities and friends." Discord is the easiest way to communicate over voice, video, and text, whether you’re part of a school club, a nightly gaming group, a worldwide art community, or just a handful of friends that want to hang out. Proprietary freeware VoIP application and digital distribution platform designed for video gaming communities, that specializes in text, image, video and audio communication between users in a chat channel. Discord runs on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, and in web browsers. As of 21 July 2019, there are over 250 million unique users of the software.
• eBuddy - since 2003. "Chat with your friends." eBuddy.lock is the safe and secure messaging app that you need. Unlimited messaging through your Internet connection. Message any way you want with text, pictures, videos, location, emoticons and more. eBuddy is a pioneer in the mobile messaging landscape with its services having 400 million users; 300 million downloads; and 650 billion messages processed. The company's flagship service is XMS, a proprietary cross-platform instant messaging service.
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• FaceTime - since 2010. "Use FaceTime with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch." Learn how to use FaceTime to make video and audio calls from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Proprietary videotelephony product developed by Apple Inc. FaceTime is available on supported iOS mobile devices and Macintosh computers that run Mac OS X 10.6.6 and later. FaceTime supports any iOS device with a forward-facing camera and any Macintosh computer equipped with a FaceTime Camera. FaceTime Audio, an audio-only version, is available on any iOS device that supports iOS 7 or newer, and any Macintosh with a forward-facing camera running Mac OS X 10.9.2 and later. FaceTime is included for free in iOS and in macOS from Mac OS X Lion (10.7) onwards. In June 2018, Apple announced that FaceTime would support group video and audio calls with up to 32 people in iOS 12 and macOS Mojave.
• FreeConference.com - since 2000. "Free Video Conferencing & Free Conference Calls." With free conference calls, free video conferencing, and free web conferencing, FreeConference.com allows you to keep up with your family, friends, and colleagues without straining your pocketbook.
• Google Duo - since 2016. Video chat mobile app developed by Google, available on the Android and iOS operating systems. Google Duo lets users make video calls in high definition. It is optimized for low-bandwidth networks. End-to-end encryption is enabled by default. Duo is based on phone numbers, allowing users to call someone from their contact list. The app automatically switches between Wi-Fi and cellular networks. A "Knock Knock" feature lets users see a live preview of the caller before answering. Support for eight-person video calls in both the iOS and Android versions of the app was added in May 2019. In line with similar group calling offerings from FaceTime, WhatsApp, Skype and Facebook Messenger, participants can join or leave the conversation at any time.
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• Google Hangouts - since 2013. "Bring your conversations to life with photos, emoji, and even group video calls for free." Instant messaging service that provides both text and voice communication. The instant messaging service is colloquially known as "gtalk" or "gchat" to its users.
• Google Meet - since 2017. Video-communication service developed by Google. It is one of two apps that constitute the replacement for Google Hangouts, the other being Google Chat. Google planned to begin retiring Google Hangouts in October 2019.
• Horizon Workrooms from Facebook - since 2021. "Remote Collaboration Reimagined." The way we work is changing. More people are working remotely, more people want flexible work options, and more people are re-thinking what it means to be in an office. But without the right connective tools, remote work still has plenty of challenges. Working without colleagues around you can feel isolating at times, and brainstorming with other people just doesn’t feel the same if you’re not in the same room.
• Houseparty - since 2019. "Houseparty is a face to face social network." Social networking service that enables group video chatting through mobile and desktop apps. Users receive a notification when friends are online and available to group video chat. Google will shut down the classic G Suite version of Hangouts in June 2020 (being replaced by Meet and Chat), but will continue to support the consumer version of classic Hangouts.
• ICQ - since 1996. "Free texting in the app or via SMS. FREE calls from any device. Call your ICQ contacts free of charge and stay in touch wherever you are." Instant messaging computer program.
• iPhone Notes: You Can Use Your iPhone Notes App to Send Secret Messages - "There's a handy tool to facilitate private conversations, and it's built right into your iPhone: To communicate, simply type something into the note, which the other person will be able to see in real-time without you having to hit send. They'll also receive a notification any time the note is altered."
• Jitsi - since 2003. "More secure, more flexible, and completely free video conferencing." Secure video calls, conferencing, chat, desktop sharing, file transfer, support for your favorite OS, and IM network. Free and open-source multiplatform voice (VoIP), videoconferencing and instant messaging applications for the web platform, Windows, Linux, Mac OS X and Android.
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• Messenger - since 2011. Instant messaging service and software application which provides text and voice communication. Integrated with Facebook's web-based Chat feature and built on the open-source MQTT protocol, Messenger lets Facebook users chat with friends both on mobile and on the main website.
• Microsoft Teams - since 2019. A unified communication and collaboration platform that combines persistent workplace chat, video meetings, file storage (including collaboration on files), and application integration. The service integrates with the Office 365 subscription office productivity suite and features extensions that can integrate with non-Microsoft products. Microsoft Teams is a competitor to services such as Slack and is the evolution and upgrade path from Microsoft Skype for Business. On March 19, 2020, Microsoft announced Microsoft Teams had hit 44 million daily users, in part due to the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic.
• Off-the-Record Messaging - since 2000. Allows you to have private conversations over instant messaging by providing: Encryption (No one else can read your instant messages), Authentication (you are assured the correspondent is who you think it is), Deniability (the messages you send do not have digital signatures that are checkable by a third party), Perfect forward secrecy (if you lose control of your private keys, no previous conversation is compromised).
• ooVoo - since 2007. "ooVoo is a free instant messaging and video call app supported on Android, iOS, Windows and macOS. ooVoo’s Chains is a community driven platform that allows you to create unique contents and share with a large group of unified creators. The app with it’s cutting-edge technology supports uninterrupted HD video calling with upto 8 people simultaneously from anywhere around the world even with LTE network."
• Riot - since 2016. "Liberate your communication." Communicate the way you want with Riot - a universal secure chat app entirely under your control.
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• Signal - since 2014. "Speak Freely." Say "hello" to a different messaging experience. An unexpected focus on privacy, combined with all of the features you expect. Cross-platform encrypted messaging service. It uses the Internet to send one-to-one and group messages, which can include files, voice notes, images and videos. It can also be used to make one-to-one voice and video calls, and the Android version can optionally function as an SMS app.
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• Skype - since 2003. "Skype makes it easy to stay in touch. Talk. Chat. Collaborate." Freemium voice-over-IP service and instant messaging client that is currently developed by the Microsoft Skype Division.
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• Slack - since 2013. "Slack brings the team together, wherever you are." With all of your communication and tools in one place, remote teams will stay productive no matter where you’re working from. Be less busy. All your communication in one place, integrating with the tools and services you use every day. Available in 8 languages. Slack went public without an IPO on April 26, 2019 and saw its shares soar to $21 billion valuation.
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• Snapchat - since 2011. Photo messaging application. Using the app, users can take photos, record videos, add text and drawings, and send them to a controlled list of recipients. These sent photographs and videos are known as "Snaps". Users set a time limit for how long recipients can view their Snaps (as of November 2013, the range is from 1 to 10 seconds), after which they will be hidden from the recipient's device and deleted from the Snapchat server.
• Tango - since 2009. "Free calls and messages everywhere. Connect, Get Social, Have Fun!" Tango automatically locates friends who also have the free app; just click on a name to place a voice or video call. The app doesn’t need to be open for you to receive calls. Tango is available in 14 languages including Arabic, Chinese, and Turkish.
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• Telegram - since 2013. "A new era of messaging. The world's fastest messaging app. It is free and secure." Cloud-based instant messaging service. Telegram client apps are available for Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Windows NT, macOS and Linux. Users can send messages and exchange photos, videos, stickers, audio and files of any type. Messages in Telegram are server-client encrypted by default, and the service provides end-to-end encryption for voice calls and optional end-to-end encrypted "secret" chats. In March 2018, Telegram stated that it had 200 million monthly active users.
• TigerConnect - since 2010. "Where Care Teams and Patients Connect." TigerConnect is where care team collaboration happens, patient communication thrives, and information is always at your fingertips, making healthcare easier for everyone, from any location. TigerConnect can be used on any Android, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, tablet, Mac or PC.
• Tinychat - since 2009. "Tinychat is an online video chat community." Discover and meet friendly people just like you. Connect and chat with your friends. Online chat website that allows users to communicate via instant messaging, voice chat, and video chat.
• Tor Chat - since 2007. Decentralized anonymous instant messenger that uses Tor onion services as its underlying network. It provides cryptographically secure text messaging and file transfers. The characteristics of Tor's onion services ensure that all traffic between the clients is encrypted and that it is very difficult to tell who is communicating with whom and where a given client is physically located.
• Tox - since 2013. "A New Kind of Instant Messaging." Whether it's corporations or governments, digital surveillance today is widespread. Tox is easy-to-use software that connects you with friends and family without anyone else listening in. While other big-name services require you to pay for features, Tox is completely free and comes without advertising - forever.
• Trillian - since 2000. "Trillian is modern and secure instant messaging." For nearly 20 years, Trillian has been a driving force behind messaging innovation. Today's Trillian is a both a free instant messenger and a powerful business and HIPAA-compliant messaging platform. How can we help you?
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• Viber - since 2010. "Free and secure calls and messages to anyone, anywhere." Keep your conversations going no matter where you are. Proprietary cross-platform instant messaging voice-over-Internet Protocol application for smartphones developed by Viber Media. In addition to text messaging, users can exchange images, video and audio media messages. As of 2018, there are over a billion registered users on the network.
• Webex - since 1995. "Keep your team connected and your work secure." Video conferencing and communications that keep your business moving forward.
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• WhatsApp - since 2009. "Simple. Secure. Reliable messaging." With WhatsApp, you'll get fast, simple, secure messaging and calling for free*, available on phones all over the world. Proprietary, cross-platform instant messaging subscription service for smartphones. In addition to text messaging, users can send each other images, video, and audio media messages. It became the world's most popular messaging application by 2015, and has over 2 billion users worldwide as of February 2020.
• Whereby - since 2013. "Freedom to work from anywhere." Enjoy the freedom to live and work where you thrive with easy video meetings from Whereby. Easy video meetings with no login or downloads. Video conferencing with screen sharing, recording and much more. Whereby is the easiest way for you and your company to meet over video. There’s no app or software download required. Just choose your own personalized URL and meet using your internet browser - on mobile or desktop - with just one click.
• Wickr - since 2011. "The Most Secure Enterprise Video Conferencing and Collaboration." The most trusted, secure and private messenger in the world. Fully encrypted. Enterprise-ready. Set up in minutes for free. Control and protect your most critical communications. Unlike other video conferencing and collaboration platforms, Wickr Pro is end-to-end encrypted and built to scale for any Enterprise. Featuring unmatched security, total compliance, secure file transfer, SSO and MDM integration, Bots, full administrative controls and a whole lot more. Proprietary instant messenger for iOS and Android and of the company that produces it. Wickr allows users to exchange end-to-end encrypted and self-destructing messages, including photos and file attachments.
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• Wire - since 2014. "The most secure collaboration platform." Modern day collaboration meets the most advanced security and superior user experience. Business chats, one-click conference calls and shared documents - all protected with end-to-end encryption. Simple, beautiful conversations on your phone, tablet and desktop. A team of more than 50 people from 23 countries, supported by Skype co-founder Janus Friis, is launching Wire, a communications network for messaging, voice calling, sharing pictures, music and video on your phone, tablet and desktop. Wire is available on iOS, Android and OS X. It offers communications with an emphasis on high fidelity paired with elegant design. People can use Wire for personal and group messaging, voice calling, sharing pictures, SoundCloud music and YouTube video sharing. Wire conversations are kept in sync across all your devices. In 2018, Wire launched its collaboration solution featuring end-to-end encrypted chat, conferencing, video calls and file-sharing on desktop and mobile for businesses.
• Yubo - since 2015. "Make new friends!" Yubo makes it easy to discover new friends all around the world. We believe that we have a huge opportunity to reinvent online friendships by providing a trustable and safe platform for everyone. A relative newcomer, French app Yubo is basically a social network for making new friends, but with video-calling built in - think MySpace, Tinder and Houseparty, all rolled into one. It’s primarily aimed at teenagers but 18-and-overs are also welcome. The app allows users to create video livestreams with up to 10 friends. The app has more than 25 million users worldwide.
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• Zoom - since 2011. "Zoom unifies cloud video conferencing, simple online meetings, and group messaging into one easy-to-use platform." Use of the platform is free for video conferences of up to 100 participants, with a 40-minute time limit. For longer or larger conferences with more features, paid subscriptions are available, costing $15–20 per month. Features geared towards business conferences, such as Zoom Rooms, are available for $50–100 per month. Zoom is one of the most popular free software applications worldwide. It is used for telecommuting, distance education, and social relations. Analysts claim that it is more reliable and easier to use than competing software. Virtual social gatherings using the software are referred to as "Zoom Parties". People using Zoom for distance education are said to go to "Zoom University" and heavy users of the program are referred to as "Zoomers". Remote conferencing service that combines video conferencing, online meetings, chat, and mobile collaboration. Zoom has seen increased use due to the quarantine measures adopted by many countries due to the coronavirus pandemic. It is being used for online classes. Daily average users rose from about 10 million in December 2019 to about 200 million in March 2020.