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WhatsApp Messenger a Superb Multi-platform Messaging App; Send Texts, Pics & Vids

Posted Tuesday, May 24th, 2011 at 11:00 am by Paul Wilks 0 Comments

User Rating4.00/5

WhatsApp Messenger is the hugely popular multi-platform, multi-functional messaging application from WhatsApp Inc. You can message with your friends for free on the WhatsApp platform regardless of whether they use an Android, Blackberry, iPhone or Nokia smartphone. Using 3G or WiFi, the app sends and receives messages just like a typical SMS inbox. A fully-featured messaging application WhatsApp Messaging can receive messages, audio notes in addition to video messages.

Price: Free for the first year, then $1.99 (per year) if you subscribe in subsequent years.

Tested on: HTC Desire HD
Content Rating: Everyone

AndroidTapp.com Android App Review:

Pros & Cons:

Pros

• Multi-platform messaging system; works across Android, Blackberry, iPhone and Nokia
• Lots of features
• Free for the first year
• Simple layout
• Customization
• Can send Video/Audio messages

Cons

• Friends have to also download and use the app- cannot message non-users. Subsequently they too need a smartphone

Features:

If you are somewhat of a text-aholic, perhaps regularly hitting your monthly allowances or being perennially running out of credit due to your busy texting, you absolutely need this app. Instead of sending texts as you would via SMS, sending it via WhatsApp Messaging means you are sending it over the Internet rather than over your carrier network, meaning other than browsing costs it’s completely free. This also means that international costs don’t count, it doesn’t matter where in the world your messaging buddies are, you can all get on the same platform and message for free.

You can send more or less what you like as well; messages, video messages, audio messages and to any platform- it doesn’t matter if your buddies use non-Android phones (they can’t all be as savvy and discerning as you) , as the app can be downloaded on various platforms for everyone.

A great feature is the group messaging function, which allows you to send messages to multiple friends and engage in a group chat. All this is done through your usual phone number too, so the friends you have that are on WhatsAppp Messenger come up automatically. Like a typical chat application- MSN, Facebook Chat, AIM etc., you can set yourself a status letting your friends know whether you can chat or not.

There are genuinely loads of additional features including: offline messaging, location, customisations, landscape mode (serious messaging session essential!) and favourite contacts. All this is free for the first year, then a non-obligatory $1.99 for subsequent years.

Watch on Mobile

Usefulness:

If you are a big-texter, your thumbs a constant blur of activity across your touch screen, then this is the ultimate app for you. You will have to convince other smart phone users to use WhatsApp Messenger, but once they have you’re away!

Ease of Use:

WhatsApp Messenger is very easy to use, in many ways its closely replicates the experience of normal SMS texting, so unless you have lived in a cave for the past twenty-five years and do not know the difference between a text message and a telegram, this will be very familiar.

Frequently Used:

If you text a lot, daily, hourly even. Every minute for some people! The app also runs in the background, so you can receive messages without having to ‘log-in’ or anything as mundane as that!

Interface:

The interface is surprisingly simple. I expected there to be a lot more going on with the host of options WhatsApp Messenger provides. But I think there has been a commitment to retaining the experience of text messaging via SMS, and the developers have been faithful to that. It has lots of options and features but encased in an app texters will be very familiar with.

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