Although there are tons of free instant messaging applications for mobile devices currently available, the SMS replacement WhatsApp is the best, first-rate smartphone app available for free. Although, the success and popularity of the app are caused by a variety of factors it is nonetheless the best choice for instant messaging, as users are able to connect to each other and send pictures, videos and audio messages as well.
How it all started
WhatsApp was founded back in 2009 by Brian Acton and Jon Koum, both former employees of Yahoo!, but it wasn’t until 2012, when the company success was decent enough to be featured on a number of app markets on various platforms. In August 2012 the company marked its success by reporting that WhatsApp is handling over 10 billion messages a day. Almost a year after the first report, on June 13, 2013 the company stated that users set a new record and the instant messenger was processing over 27 billion messages.
WhatsApp is Growing every day
Today, after being one of the top downloaded free applications for 2013 on various mobile platforms, WhatsApp reportedly has over 400 million active users each month. ForbesTimes even went as far as saying that the application did to SMS messaging what Skype did to international calling on landlines.
Availability
WhatsApp is currently available for BlackBerryOS, Google, Apple iOS, Android, Selected Nokia Series 40, Microsoft Windows Phone, Symbian and selected Nokia Asha devices. The constant support of the multi-platform availability is one of the main factors for the growing popularity of the application, making the IM communication both internationally and locally.
Privacy Concern
Requiring users to upload their entire phone’s address book to WhatsApp servers, a Canadian-Dutch government investigation concluded that the app raises major privacy and security problems. The company was addressed several times to increase the measures against hackers, but no further actions were taken by WhatsApp Inc.
Overall
If you haven’t yet checked out the app and it is available for download to your device, we highly recommend for you to freely download it and try it out. As its popularity grows it is almost certain that some of your phonebook contacts will have it and it may even lead to conversations with people who you have forgotten, but don’t worry if someone spams you or sends you inappropriate pictures you can simply block that contact. WhatsApp is definitely the best free mobile app to date.