Messaging app is most happening app section these days. Like people buy second sim to for cheaper internet and gave space to fight against incumbent operators like Airtel, Vodafone and Idea. Similarly, interesting and innovative features have given a new life to messaging apps to compete with whatsapp.
I remember using whatsapp on my Android phone in 2011, and uninstalled as it was a desert to use and could not find single friend of mine on it. Then installed Nimbuzz because it has FB chat and GTalk, so it gave a single platform to use these chat ids. Also, searched for app to send free sms. Now, its the whatapp which has not only replaced chat ids but also SMS. If you are not on whatsapp, then you don't have a smartphone.
There are several apps that giving challenge to whatsapp but globally saw success, becoming a regional app. In India, hike is the most used second messaging app because of his personalized Indian stickers. Trust me it the best India app I have
One feature which is hot these days, is calling. Several apps have this feature and let me tell my experience in short about them.
FB Messenger: The best in calling. Best quality calls, I loved this app.
Whatsapp: Improved in latest version and now using it a lot.
Hike: Good sometimes but lags sometimes even on high speed WiFi. Stickers are the best part of app.
Ringr: Can't even hear the other person once. Total waste by Kochi Engineers.
Viber: Good calling apps but does not like the chat interface.
Tango: Only good for Video Calls
Hangout: Only good for Group Video/Audio Calls on high speed Wifi. Else will eat up your 3G data a lot.
Nanu: Feel like being on desert.
One thing these all apps depend is on data. On low speed internet, we cannot have calling and video calls not at all possible. Operators like Airtel which have good network in most crowded cities Delhi and Mumbai, sell data at a very expensive price. If I have to call someone then paying for expensive data would prefer some tariff rate cutter. And call using these apps when on WiFi at home/office. These apps can't be used for calling on the go due to expensive data.
Startups are more into apps these days as people are using smartphones more to access internet than laptop. But they will fail if people do not use data on them and that means it will remain being dumb phones. Apps like mCent, TaskBucks pay back user for installing apps but they can't be reliable to offer enough data. Internet.org and Airtel Zero again meant for selective apps and hence no benefit for startups.
Only solution to this problem is cheaper 3G/4G or government should offer city wide cheaper/free high speed wifi. Hope, this day will come soon when atleast city like Mumbai or Delhi NCR will have access to cheaper high speed internet.
