WhatsApp vs BlackBerry Messenger
In a world where short message service (SMS) has become obsolete (almost), instant messaging (IM) is the new way to communicate. With various IM service providers on the rise, two IM service providers have emerged as the leaders in this, yet unfinished race. They, most noticeably being BlackBerry Messenger and WhatsApp (written in alphabetical order). BlackBerry Messenger being the grandpa of IM it wasn't a surprise that it managed to hold on to its user base. But they lost that edge of exclusivity ('I'm buying a BlackBerry smartphone because it has BlackBerry Messenger') the moment WhatsApp became available for almost all smartphones rather almost all operating systems being run on those smartphones (iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone, Symbian and S40). Now the question that arises is, 'Which one out of these two will eventually win the race?'
BlackBerry Messenger:
Pros:
1) Encrypted messaging service & high reliability.
2) Choose BBM display picture and status.
3) Send and receive messages with unlimited length.
4) Share photos, videos and more with multiple contacts at once.
5) Real time confirmations of delivered and read messages.
6) Send music files.
7) Create and join groups.
8) Share location.
9) Is free (but requires a dedicated BlackBerry plan).
Cons:
1) Limited to only BlackBerry devices as it requires a BlackBerry PIN number.
2) Requires you to subscribe to a dedicated BlackBerry internet plan, because it uses the BIS as a channel of communication.
WhatsApp Messenger:
Pros:
1) Encrypted messaging service (new feature in the latest version).
2) Cross Platform (iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone, Symbian and S40) as it generates a user account using the cell phone number and uses a MD-5 hashed, reversed version of the IMEI of the phone as password.
3) Choose display pictures from your photo gallery and status updates.
4) Send and receive messages with unlimited length.
5) Share photos, videos and more with contacts.
6) Create and join groups.
7) Share location.
8) Real time confirmations of delivered and read messages.
9) Can be bought with a one time payment of $0.99 on the Appstore and Play Store and for BlackBerry, Windows Phone and Symbian devices its free for the 1st year of usage.
10) Does not require a dedicated data plan for WhatsApp, works on the regular internet plan.
Cons:
1) Groups are limited to 20 contacts presently.
2) May not match the BBM in reliability, various issues of security holes have been made public by various hackers.
Verdict: At present it looks like there is no clear winner, but WhatsApp has the edge over BlackBerry for the sole reason that it supports various platforms. In the long run BlackBerry may lose its grip over its IM user base, because of 3 reasons; One is that the world is going gaga over the plethora of smartphones available in the market (almost all of which WhatsApp supports). Two Research in Motion is not staying true to its name, other smartphone vendors like Apple Inc. and Samsung are reinventing the smartphone with newer features with every new iteration of their devices, which make the BlackBerry smartphones a little less attractive deal for even their corporate clients. And third (being last but not the least) a new player has emerged by the name of iMessage (which is bundled into the iOS, only iOS5 onwards) it will take time till it catches up, but we cannot underestimate its potential.
So if RIM wants to keep is IM user base or even better, make it grow they may have to do something new, like license its messenger service to other smartphone vendors (desperate times call for desperate measures).
In a world where short message service (SMS) has become obsolete (almost), instant messaging (IM) is the new way to communicate. With various IM service providers on the rise, two IM service providers have emerged as the leaders in this, yet unfinished race. They, most noticeably being BlackBerry Messenger and WhatsApp (written in alphabetical order). BlackBerry Messenger being the grandpa of IM it wasn't a surprise that it managed to hold on to its user base. But they lost that edge of exclusivity ('I'm buying a BlackBerry smartphone because it has BlackBerry Messenger') the moment WhatsApp became available for almost all smartphones rather almost all operating systems being run on those smartphones (iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone, Symbian and S40). Now the question that arises is, 'Which one out of these two will eventually win the race?'
BlackBerry Messenger:
Pros:
1) Encrypted messaging service & high reliability.
2) Choose BBM display picture and status.
3) Send and receive messages with unlimited length.
4) Share photos, videos and more with multiple contacts at once.
5) Real time confirmations of delivered and read messages.
6) Send music files.
7) Create and join groups.
8) Share location.
9) Is free (but requires a dedicated BlackBerry plan).
Cons:
1) Limited to only BlackBerry devices as it requires a BlackBerry PIN number.
2) Requires you to subscribe to a dedicated BlackBerry internet plan, because it uses the BIS as a channel of communication.
WhatsApp Messenger:
Pros:
1) Encrypted messaging service (new feature in the latest version).
2) Cross Platform (iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone, Symbian and S40) as it generates a user account using the cell phone number and uses a MD-5 hashed, reversed version of the IMEI of the phone as password.
3) Choose display pictures from your photo gallery and status updates.
4) Send and receive messages with unlimited length.
5) Share photos, videos and more with contacts.
6) Create and join groups.
7) Share location.
8) Real time confirmations of delivered and read messages.
9) Can be bought with a one time payment of $0.99 on the Appstore and Play Store and for BlackBerry, Windows Phone and Symbian devices its free for the 1st year of usage.
10) Does not require a dedicated data plan for WhatsApp, works on the regular internet plan.
Cons:
1) Groups are limited to 20 contacts presently.
2) May not match the BBM in reliability, various issues of security holes have been made public by various hackers.
Verdict: At present it looks like there is no clear winner, but WhatsApp has the edge over BlackBerry for the sole reason that it supports various platforms. In the long run BlackBerry may lose its grip over its IM user base, because of 3 reasons; One is that the world is going gaga over the plethora of smartphones available in the market (almost all of which WhatsApp supports). Two Research in Motion is not staying true to its name, other smartphone vendors like Apple Inc. and Samsung are reinventing the smartphone with newer features with every new iteration of their devices, which make the BlackBerry smartphones a little less attractive deal for even their corporate clients. And third (being last but not the least) a new player has emerged by the name of iMessage (which is bundled into the iOS, only iOS5 onwards) it will take time till it catches up, but we cannot underestimate its potential.
So if RIM wants to keep is IM user base or even better, make it grow they may have to do something new, like license its messenger service to other smartphone vendors (desperate times call for desperate measures).
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