Messaging apps have come a long way since we first learned how to send an SMS on our old Nokias. Most mobile operators today offer unlimited SMS messages, trying to compete with the unlimited potential of Internet messaging. Viber, Telegram, WhatsApp, and others have changed how we send messages, where some old timers might recognize the elements of MSN Messenger. What do modern apps allow besides messaging, and what innovative functions can you get out of them? We’ll nudge you toward that answer in a moment.
Messages, calls, or video calls are well known, but we are here to share some lesser-used functions of Facebook Messenger. Whether on your PC or mobile, it’s good to know you can color code your friends. Each chat with your friends can be in their favorite color by going to their name, clicking on contact, and selecting the preferred color. When you are talking with multiple people at once, this can help you check with whom you’re talking at a glance.
You can also call Uber for you and your friends by clicking on the “…” menu below “Type a message” and select “Location”. From there, you can request an Uber or a Lift and see all the details. Since 2016, Facebook has made the Bots function, and you can go to your home screen and type @PizzaHut or @Dominos to order a pizza. The same applies to any brand present with a bot, and you can pay them via your “$” symbol in the text entry box.
Security and privacy were the main focus of Telegram with its encryption services. From that point onwards, Telegram has expanded and offers a Secret Chats feature, where your messages get permanently deleted after X amount of time. You also have supergroups, which can have over 200,000 participants, and an open API that allows you to make unofficial apps and plugins for your Telegram app.
Telegram bots operate similarly because they can make commands in the chat that trigger actions, such as displaying news, ordering items, enabling you to participate in telegram gambling, tracking info about movie releases, and anything you and other users can think of. One interesting tidbit for tech enthusiasts is that you can link your Telegram API with Zapier for even more automation.
Viber started as a simple messaging app using your Wi-Fi or mobile data connection, which technically means you could have unlimited messages with other users. Viber has expanded to the entire array of standard messaging features and is often compared to WhatsApp. One key innovation Viber made first is its Communities feature, a public chatting channel where you can join and potentially chat with an unlimited number of strangers.
Admins can still customize the channel and moderate it. And if you want to ditch your Skype app, with Viber Out for $5.99 per month, you can call any mobile phone or landline in the world with enhanced encryption and security Viber offers.
One-time passwords are one of the better options for a secure password for obvious reasons. Our standard passwords can be eventually cracked, in theory, but a one-time password is gone after its first use. But the downtime is that your phone SMS inbox will get flooded over time with OTP messages, but luckily Google Messages has a built-in function to delete such messages after 24 hours have passed.
It’s located in your Settings, and then from there, your Message Organization. Apart from that, Google Messages has all the standard functions you’re used to, plus a birthday reminder, the ability to snooze messaging and to send you message reminders at a certain date and time.
Innovation has changed how we view messaging apps today. They have evolved beyond their basic functionality, and allow us to do much more. Lightweight, practical, and nifty, they will forever hold a special place in our hearts. Not everyone finds it cool to send pictures, and use quirky emotes to communicate. Some people still prefer to communicate through messages, although messaging apps can do so much more nowadays. With plenty of apps to choose from, the subtle differences and the unique functions will make some apps more appealing to dedicated users.
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