WhatsApp goes free: Drops all subscription fees
WhatsApp is dropping its subscription fees to access the popular messaging service, as it looks to explore new funding options, such as tie-ins with other companies. The chat app, famously bought by Facebook for a massive $19bn in 2014, is ditching the 99 cent annual...Instagram usage ‘doubles in last 2 years’
In the world of social networking, Facebook-owned Instagram has been a clear success story in recent years. New research from Global Web Index indicates that the social netowrk has risen rapidly in recent years to rival the likes of Twitter. The platform has gone from...WhatsAppers ‘more likely to send photos than Snapchatters’
Snapchat’s primary function may be as a photo-sharing app but WhatsAppers are actually more likely to be engaging in this activity, according to new research. The study, from Global Web Index, indicates that with Snapchat continuing to broaden its features to compete...The rise of chat apps: 2bn mobile messaging users by 2018
Over 1.4 billion global consumers will utilize a mobile messaging application this year, and that number will rise to 2 billion by 2018, according to new research. The study, from eMarketer, predicts that three-quarters of smartphone users will make use of an...Facebook just 4th most popular social network for US teens- report
Facebook ranks only fourth as US teens’ most important social network, with Instagram the clear favourite, according to new research. The Piper Jaffray semi-annual survey of American teens showed that in second place was Twitter with 20 percent, and following that was...Global chat app trends: WhatsApp most popular in India
A global study of the digital attitudes and behaviours of 60,500 internet users across 50 countries, 55 per cent are on instant messaging every day. Instant messaging (IM) has seen a 12% increase in daily usage globally as more people opt for closed messaging...Facebook outlines plans to monetise Messenger app
Facebook is considering ways to make money from its popular Messenger app, possibly taking a cut in sales from click to call messages and ecommerce sales. Speaking at TechCrunch Disrupt, Andrew Bosworth, Facebook’s head of ads and Pages, said business could...Yahoo debuts ‘silent’ messaging app
Yahoo has launched a new messaging service called Livetext that features live two-way video chats for mobile device users, but with a ‘silent’ twist. Pitched as “live video texting without sound,” Livetext lets users communicate through facial...Teens dub YouTube the ‘coolest’ social network ahead of Instagram
Despite the rise of mobile apps such an Instagram, WhatsApp and SnapChat, US and UK teens have picked YouTube as the coolest social network, according to a new survey. GlobalWebIndex Social Q1 2015 – Summary Report from GlobalWebIndex The study, from...Facebook begins WhatsApp integration
Facebook has reportedly started testing WhatsApp integration with its popular social network, looking to find ways of unifying the two services. Technology blog Geektime reports that Facebook has launched an updated test version of WhatsApp (v31.0.0.7.13) lets users...Facebook opens Messenger to third-party apps
Facebook has revamped its Messenger service, letting users send content like GIFs, photos, videos, and more from third-party apps within the Facebook Messenger app. The move means that app developers can now build Facebook Messenger support into their apps, making...WeChat Vs WhatsApp: Battle of the chat apps (infographic)
Chat apps have become hugely popular in recent years, with Facebook-owned WhatsApp and China-based WeChat becoming the places for people to chat on their mobiles while avoiding SMS charges. This infographic charts the success of the platforms and compares the marketing efforts of both.
