Launched in 2009, and acquired by Facebook in 2014, Whatsapp has become the most widely used instant messaging app in India as of 2017. Used by people belonging to all age groups, the application has rapidly gained momentum within a decade of its initiation. Whatsapp has managed to stay ahead of its major competitors, including Messenger, Skype, Hike and Viber.
Whatsapp has been in trend for a while now and there are no signs of it moving down the social ladder. Ranked first in the list of instant messaging apps, Whatsapp is compatible with all smartphones, including the iOS series. It has no bothersome ads, a feature that makes it all the more pleasant for users. While other messaging apps are open to viewers, Whatsapp protects and maintains the privacy of your account by allowing people on your contact list to scroll through your profile. Any unwanted user can be prevented access by the ‘block’ option available.
This instant messaging application is used by almost 1.5 billion users globally, has almost replaced the SMS which had gained hype in the first decade of this millennium. When it was first launched in 2009, it was originally meant to be a messaging app. Whatsapp gained prompt response and became an immediate success as it did not pose a challenge to the other voice calling apps. Today, the free calling feature has added to its popularity.
Whatsapp accommodates all categories of people from all age groups, right from young kids to their grandparents. The reason it attracts such varied users is due to the simplicity of its use. Not too complicated, it is easy to follow the instructions and send files to friends. Since it does not require an email id for signing up, users are more inclined to make use of this app. The phone numbers become an identity to the user.
Another attribute that increases the proclivity of using Whatsapp is its secure end-to-end encryption. All data is stored on the phone storage itself and requires no additional storage device. Perhaps its most interesting feature is the ease with which people are able to chat in groups. It is relatively simple to create a group and connect with people with a common background as yours. You can also update your status as you wish.
It will be interesting to see if any application can surpass its popular image and overtake it in the long run.
