Over the past few years, uncountable instant messaging applications have been made available on our mobile devices and computers, from Skype, Viber to WhatsApp.
It is definitely a crowded, competitive field. WhatsApp is no doubt the king of chat at the moment, but people are starting to take notice of WeChat. The IM app is gaining traction very fast. They have recently hit 600 million monthly active users. WeChat’s growth clearly shows that WhatsApp supremacy will soon come to an end. That is because this current generation of Smartphones and messaging apps are not just about text messaging
By being only focused on messaging, WhatsApp is surely missing the opportunity to create more engaging channels. While WeChat offer games and social networking features, WhatsApp only relies on its instant messaging capabilities to lure the users.
So what makes WeChat stand out?
First, it is important to understand that WeChat is available for the Android, iPhone, Symbian, Blackberry and Windows Phones OSs. The application is supported on 2G, 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi connections. So what are the main features of this application that makes it so popular? Let’s have a look!
Shake
Most users find this feature really strange. What you need to do is shake your phone and it will show you people around the world who are also shaking their phones at the same time. You can pick up a random person to strike up a conversation with. But if you do not want strangers chatting with you, there is a blocking option.
Chat Directly from your PC
There is still no official WhatsApp PC version. However, it is still possible to access WhatsApp via PC, thanks to the Android emulators, such as Bluestacks Player. Even so, WeChat has already rolled out an official PC version of their app. This means that you can chat directly from your computer.
WeChat Moments
Moments allow users to share photos, videos and so forth. You can also link your photos to Facebook, provided you have linked your WeChat account to Facebook. Simply take your photo, add caption and share it to Facebook via WeChat.
Stickers and Emoticons
Everyone loves stickers and emoticons. Unlike WhatsApp, WeChat lets you use both emoticons and stickers at the same time for free. It is a great way of expressing your feelings without having to type words.
Look Around
Look Around seems to be one of the fun features. With this feature, you can find people near you who are using WeChat as well. You can send invitations to those people to become your friend.
Video Chat
The app lets you talk face-to-face with your friends and family in real time. The best part is that it is completely free. You can also switch between video and voice modes during the call.
If you are looking for messaging apps that integrates loads of social features, then you cannot go wrong with WeChat. WhatsApp does not look even close to being able to beat WeChat, especially when it comes to additional features. It is probably the right time to stop referring to WeChat as instant messaging app. The name does not do it justice at all.
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