messaging apps

WhatsApp, a free text and VoIP app, uses Wi-Fi and cellular data and offers a profusion of features. We show you how to get the most out of it.

WhatsApp users have until May 15 to accept its new privacy policies or face seeing the messaging app's functionality gradually removed.

Using an encrypted messaging app ensures your security and privacy, whether you're just chatting or sending bank details. We round up the best ones available.

Facebook Messenger is a go-to for texting and calling friends and family. There are a ton of features, but we've rounded up the best to up your Messenger game.

Facebook has reportedly backpedaled on plans to bring ads to WhatsApp. The social networking giant has apparently disbanded the team that was working on the idea, and removed code from the app. The founders of the messaging app, who quit a couple of years ago, always said they never wanted to see ads on the service.

Fans of Kik Messenger will be pleased to learn that the messaging app is going nowhere. Last month the creator of Kik Messenger announced its imminent closure, but another company has now stepped in to save it. L.A.-based MediaLab has promised to work on improving the app, but added that it will soon include ads.

Kik Interactive's CEO has announced that Kik Messenger will be shutting down in order for Kik to focus on its Kin cryptocurrency. The app shutdown will be accompanied by over 100 layoffs at Kik Interactive, and both actions are meant to bolster Kik's finances against in impending court case against the U.S. SEC.

Skype has launched a bunch of new features for mobile and desktop, including drafts, bookmarks, and previews. Also, the split window feature (showing contacts and conversations) that launched recently for Windows 10 has now landed for Windows, Mac, and Linux running the latest version of Skype.

Popular messaging app Telegram has released an update with several neat features that we think will be pretty popular. Slow Mode, for example, gives a group administrator greater control over when messages are posted, while Silent Messages guarantees you won’t wake your buddy if you get in touch late in the day.

Facebook Messenger launched a dark mode last month, but to activate it you had to message the crescent moon to someone. Now it's been rolled out officially, and it can be accessed in settings. Messenger is one of a growing number of apps to offer a dark mode that can ease eye strain and conserve battery power.

WhatsApp has a serious problem on its hands. Users of the popular messaging app, which can be used to send messages to users around the globe, may have noticed a deluge of spam flooding their inboxes recently. But how do you distinguish the hoaxes from the legit offers? Here are a few pointers.

WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum announced on April 30 that he is leaving the company. Reports suggest he has become frustrated with the direction in which parent-company Facebook is taking the messaging app, with particular concerns centering on data privacy and business strategy.

Here are nine examples of once-promising tech products or companies that sadly won't be seeing the light of 2018.

The days of Running Man spinning across your desktop have officially come to an end. AOL Instant Messenger has signed off after 20 years.

With the introduction of several new features in 2017, Facebook Messenger saw its biggest year yet, with more than 1.3 billion users.

Indonesia blocked access to Telegram's web app in July over terrorist concerns, but developers have agreed to a compromise with authorities.

Last month, a teardown of Allo 9.0 revealed new features that had yet to be enabled. Now, some of them are finally making the rounds.

It is Russian law that user information must be kept within the country's borders, and the developer has reportedly failed to comply.

A Reddit post claims Google will remove the ability to send and receive SMS and MMS messages through Hangouts in the next several months.

WhatsApp is reportedly testing the ability for businesses to chat directly with companies as a potential new revenue stream for the service.