Instant Messaging apps are a dime-a-dozen, with a new one launching every other week. And then there’s WhatsApp. Despite the increasing competition, WhatsApp remains to be that app, every smartphone user will have installed on their phone. Many new apps like Hangouts, Viber, WeChat, Hike etc are coming up in the IM market. Few people use them and few don’t. But the leading IM app is ‘WhatsApp’. So what made WhatsApp stick? Let us look at what keeps WhatsApp ahead of its competitors.
Early to the market
WhatsApp launched itself in 2009. Back then it was the only free IM app that emulated the good features of BBM like ‘Always On’ and ‘Group Messaging’. People used to chat with each other via text messages and for them the WhatsApp concept was like a fresh breath of air. You could send as many number of messages, no word limit, exchange videos, audio, pictures easily. Now that almost everybody you know has WhatsApp, it has become almost mandatory to keep it installed, since people might try to ping you on WhatsApp before any other client.
Works well on 2G
Be it any network; 2G/3G/4G or over WiFi, WhatsApp works efficiently in all. Even if you don’t have a high speed network connection, WhatsApp still delivers the same output. So 2G users don’t have to fret or feel bad if they don’t have 3G/4G network. Messages will be sent instantly and the only minor disadvantage is that images get compressed when you send them over WhatsApp, resulting in lower quality than the original.
Last seen status
This feature can be a plus or a negative point. It allows the user to see the other person’s status; whether he/she is online or typing or when was the last time they checked in. This helps the user to know whether that person is active on WhatsApp or has stopped using it or (this is the bad part), is avoiding him/her.
Also Read: WhatsApp vs. WeChat: Mobile Messaging War
No need to be login or add contacts
What made WhatsApp so virally popular was the ease of use. There’s no need to login with a username and password. Just entering your phone number initially to be logged in for life. So, this is no excuse for people not being able to communicate with others. Also, another great advantage as compared to traditional Instant Messengers was that, contacts don’t need to be explicitly added to be able to talk to them. As soon as a particular contact is in your address book, and provided is using WhatsApp, automatically shows up in the WhatsApp contact list.
Restrictions on Broadcasting Messages and Group Members
WhatsApp might have created a little nuisance with its broadcast and group feature but it sure has taken some measures to curb this problem. One can broadcast a message to 50 people at a time instead of a ‘select all’ feature which is available in a few other apps, which might lead to spam. They also have limited the members in a Group chat. Current update enables us to add 50 members in a group.
Available for all Smartphones
Be it Samsung, Blackberry, iPhone, HTC, Motorola etc. WhatsApp is available in all the Smartphone models. You just need a Smartphone to make it work. Forget Smartphones, WhatsApp is available on some non-smartphones like the Nokia Asha series as well. Although there isn’t a desktop client yet, there are workarounds using which you can download it on your computer, enter your mobile number and the code that you receive on a phone number that isn’t using WhatsApp and converse using the PC.
Author Bio: Prerna Kothari is the Consumer Electronics Expert at PriceBaba.com. She is currently pursuing Bachelors in Mass Media.
