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Best Messaging Apps For iPhone
Jayesh Limaye, Aug 26, 2011 2147 hrs ISTA listing of a variety of apps to keep in touch with friends.
Facebook Messenger
Price: Free
Current Version: 1.0.1
Size: 5.8 MB
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 4.0 or later.
Facebook Messenger lets you send messages directly to your FB
buddies' mobiles. Of course, that is possible only if they have
registered their mobile numbers with the social networking giant. If
not, then the message still gets through to their wall. On installing
the app, it asks you to register your mobile number with FB in case you
haven't already done that. The app not only lets you start messaging
right away, but it also retrieves your online FB chat history and
reflects it in the app interface. It is effectively a trimmed down
version of the original FB app, with the sole purpose of allowing you to
message your friends. The app does appear to serve that purpose very
aptly. It also supports location services, thus allowing you to let your
friends know about your current location using your phone's GPS. Some
of the interesting features of this app include group messaging, mobile
notifications even when the app is not running, and the ability to
include photos so friends can see what you're doing.
fring: Video Calls + IM
Price: Free
Current Version: 5.1.1.2
Size: 18.2 MB
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 4.0 or later.
This
is the iOS version of the already popular mobile IM app, and it
supports video calling. Just like in the previous app, you need to sign
up for free to be able to make free voice and video calls to your
friends. Fring also supports calling to iDevice users. Using what it calls DVQ
(Dynamic Video Quality) technology, it senses and adjusts video quality
according to your internet connection, trying to ensure a smooth video
calling experience. One of its unique features is group video call,
using which you can simultaneously have up to 4 participants in a video
conference. Fring can also be used to make calls to regular phones
around the world at a small price when compared to regular call rates.
Nimbuzz: Free Calls & Messaging
Price: Free
Current Version: 2.2.1
Size: 8.7 MB
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 4.0 or later.
Nimbuzz is free calling and unified messaging application for the iPhone. With support for popular networks such as Yahoo!, MSN Messenger, AIM, ICQ, GoogleTalk, Facebook, MySpace, Hyves, and SIP VoIP
accounts, this app frees you from the hassle of having to install
individual apps for each of these services. All your buddies are
available at one place, regardless of the IM service they are using.
Nimbuzz also supports sending free SMS to your friends using Nimbuzz. If
you are on 3G or Wi-Fi, you can also make voice calls for free. With
push notifications, you are notified about chats, calls, voice mails,
and files even when Nimbuzz application is not running. It works on most
popular smartphones and feature phones with cross-platform
compatibility because it is available for almost every platform. There
is also a subscription option called NimbuzzOut, which lets you call mobile and landline phones for very low rates.
Textoo Pro
Price: $ 0.99 (Rs 46 approx)
Current Version: 1.1
Size: 8.4 MB
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.1 or later.
Imagine being able to send unlimited free SMS messages through your iPhone. Textoo Pro
lets you do just that for a little onetime payment of just $0.99 (Rs 46
approx). Textoo Pro, which was initially available as a free version
known as Textoo, has now gone paid, but provides the same facility of
being able to send unlimited text messages of up to 130 characters not
just domestically, but even internationally to various countries
including USA, UK , Germany, India, UAE, Singapore, Phillipines, Kuwait,
Japan, and many more. What this app does is actually act as a front end
for various online free SMS gateways, thus saving you the trouble of
having to visit them individually. It also supports Flash SMS and long
SMS of up to 470 characters when sent within India. The app claims a
message delivery time of within 10 seconds, which we confirmed is indeed
the case. With new gateways being added each week, this app is a must
have for SMS junkies.
Omegle
Price: $ 0.99 (Rs 46 approx)
Current Version: 1.0.3
Size: 0.2 MB
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 4.0 or later.
We saved this app for the last. If you fancy the idea of a blind date, then this messaging app will surely interest you. Omegle
is a one of a kind app, which lets you chat with complete strangers.
You are not required to sign in; all you need to do is click on Start a conversation
button and begin chatting with a complete stranger in a completely
anonymous way. This stranger is someone like you, who has also logged
into the Omegle server either using this app or via the browser. While
this may sound adventurous, you are cautioned against divulging any
sensitive or private information because it is impossible to find out
who you are sharing it with, unless the other person positively
identifies himself \ herself.
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