The evolution of instant messaging

We use WhatsApp and we depend on it so much that we easily forget that only seven years ago it was not here at all. Even by IT standards this is an incredibly fast evolution, an unprecedented change in computing habits. Facebook, the owner since 2014 of the amazing instant messenger service, claims a little more than 1 billion users. We believe that.

Instant messaging (IM) with smartphones is now almost as frequently used as the voice phone part in your handset. The functionality and the convenience far exceed what the “traditional” SMS service that your mobile phone provider typically offers. When it comes to exchanging short messages, which is quickly becoming our favourite way to communicate, IM often beats e-mail, taking precedence over it. By including text, photos, video and audio, and by making everything a breeze and providing convenient feedback about the delivery of the messages, WhatsApp does an almost perfect job, nice and easy. 

Even if the leader in terms of community size, WhatsApp is not the only such service. Skype Messenger, Viber, Tango, Hangouts and also are widely used and very popular systems. Skype Messenger for one presents the advantage of working across a wider variety of platforms, including full-size Windows 7, 8 and 10 computers. WhatsApp on the other hand doesn’t work on these versions of Windows; it only works on mobile Windows (tablets and phones).

If WhatsApp is — for now — the undisputed king, Telegram, the newcomer and the brainchild of Russian Nikolai Durov, brings with it one advantage that may prove to be not negligible at all. Messages on Telegram can be safely encrypted and, therefore, cannot be hacked, forwarded or intercepted. It won’t even reside on Telegram servers. This is unique, a feature unseen in the field.

Telegram already has 100 million users. Though it is but one-tenth of WhatsApp, it is still impressive by any measure. And the users base of growing very fast.

Now why on earth should you want to encrypt a short message? There can be many reasons for that, especially if it’s a business text, not just a casual question you are asking your friend or a message to tell your spouse you’re going to be late for lunch. Perhaps Telegram precisely is targeting businesses. In my line of work we often need to send IMs including sensitive passwords for computers and servers. Telegram can prove to be handy in such cases.

Many argue that given the flabbergasting number of users on these networks, typically in the hundreds of millions when not in billions, who really is going to eavesdrop on your messaging? Who has the time to do it and who do you think is interested in your personal chats? Even if spying is done randomly, the chance that your messaging be intercepted is virtually zero. On the other hand, if you are specifically targeted, for one reason or another, “they” will manage to read you anyway, whatever your messaging service or security mode.

I recently installed Telegram on my smartphone, adding it to the already installed
WhatsApp and Skype. Whereas Skype behaves a bit differently, the first two are neck and neck in terms of speed, convenience and functionality, albeit with slightly different settings, again with Telegram featuring the unique “secret chat” thing. If you need this level of confidentiality Telegram is unmatched for now. And to think that all these IM services are free, truly free, without even insidious ads or annoying pop up notifications and reminders to subscribe.

Compared to WhatsApp, Telegram and the like, the old, basic SMS system that comes with your phone seems like an antiquated system, though it is still used, especially by banks and other formal services that need to send you official notifications. We probably need them all.