Top 5 Instant Messaging Platforms

Instant messaging has entirely revolutionized the telecommunication industry. These days, instant messaging platforms ensure that you are able to communicate in real time with people all over the world. This has led to a paradigm shift in the way in which we connect with the world. In order to better understand the various applications for instant messaging, we have to 1st go into the details of what exactly is the meaning of instant messaging.

Instant messaging is a mode of communication which utilizes the Internet in order to deliver messages in real time. Currently, there are quite a few platforms which offer this feature. Over the last few years, owing to the ease of use and convenience, instant messaging platforms have become more and more popular. The communication is not just limited to text messages, but it can be via multimedia messages or teleconferencing as well. An instant messaging platform is fast evolving into a necessity rather than a luxury. Today we would share with you top 5 instant messaging platforms which you can use to communicate in real time.

1. WhatsApp

WhatsApp is one of the most popular instant messaging platforms currently. One of the main advantages of it is that it uses very little bandwidth while operating. This ensures that even if you are on a slow broadband plan, you would be able to use WhatsApp pretty easily. WhatsApp also allows you to create groups with the limitation of up to 256 members and you can easily send bulk WhatsApp messages to your contacts. It is completely free for the first year. WhatsApp, allows you to conduct voice as well as video calls if you're having a proper Internet connection. One of the main advantages of WhatsApp is that it offers you complete encryption of your messages.

Groups:
• Group Size: up to 256 members

Pros:
• Free for the first year
• Uses less bandwidth
• Does not need a lot of resources
• Easy to use
• End-to-end encryption

Cons:
• Limited computer compatibility

2. ezTalks Meetings

ezTalks Meetings has emerged as one of the most popular instant messaging platforms. It also has a dedicated mobile application which can be used on smartphones for video conferencing. The platform uses the teleconferencing technique in order to transmit the audio, as well as video to the members in real time who are in the group meetings. This ensures that rather than just relying on texts, this particular platform allows you to utilize video as well as audio in order to transmit your messages in real time.

Moreover, the other members who are connected to the meeting can also transmit and receive information. Thus, ezTalks Meetings enables dual communication for up to 500 participants. This ensures that you are able to schedule online meetings on this platform. You can easily share screens and interactive whiteboards, and record the meeting and play it as well. You can easily use this instant messaging platform for video calling as well. ezTalks Meetings also has private as well as group chat on offer. This ensures that if you want to communicate with someone privately, that is possible as well.

Packages:
• Starter package: up to 100 participants
• Pro Package: up to 500 participants

Note: You can easily utilize the package according to the number of participants.

In addition to that, in all the packages, you would get HD video as well as HD audio. This would help you conduct a professional meeting with very little infrastructure and IT support. ezTalks Meetings also offers you a completely secure platform with SSL encryption, which would protect your data during and after the meetings.

Pros:
• HD video and HD audio
• Multiple support channels
• Money back guarantee
• Easy to use
• Browser compatibility
• Mobile application
• SSL encryption

Cons:
•When you use the free trial version, group meetings have a limitation of 40 minutes

3. Viber

Viber is one of the pioneers in voice calling when it comes to instant messaging platform. It allows you to not just send text, but also send video clips as well as locations and stickers. Even though some of the stickers are paid, but a variety of stickers are free.

All you need to do is to synchronize your contacts with this application and you would be able to send a text message to them or call them for completely free. If you're calling to landline, Viber also offers you that facility through its paid service Viber out. Currently, all the voice calls, as well as video calls to smartphones, are completely free. On Viber, you can also create public chatrooms with a limitation of 250 members.

Groups:
• Group Size: up to 250 members

Pros:
• Audio and Video Calling
• Group chats up to 250 members
• Ability to send stickers, locations, audio files, texts
• Computer compatibility through Viber for desktop

Cons:
• Utilizes higher bandwidth

4. Google Hangouts

Google Hangouts has been around for quite some period of time in one avatar or the other like GTalk. Google Hangouts is available on iOS as well as Android and other web-based platforms as well. It is one of the few instant messaging platforms which provides complete PC/laptop compatibility. Whether you're looking for chatting or whether you're looking for video conference calls, it is one of the best instant messaging platforms available today.

You can easily create a video chat group of up to 25 members in Google Hangouts. It can also be completely synchronized with other Google applications like Google Calendar. This ensures that you are able to organize your meetings very well.

Groups:
• Group size: up to 25 members

Pros:
• Cross-platform compatibility
• Can be synchronized with other Google applications
• Easy to use
• Video conference on smartphone is possible

Cons:
• High-quality broadband connection is required

5. WeChat

WeChat is one of the most popular instant messaging platforms in the world. Recently, it has also added a payment interface to its application. It has evolved from just an instant messaging platform to a full-fledged payment solution as well as communication application.

It has over 930 million active users currently. WeChat allows both voice and video calls. WeChat also offers computer compatibility through its website. In terms of communication, it offers you:

• Text and voice messaging
• Broadcasting to a group
• Video conferencing
• Video game options
• Sending photographs, videos, location

It can also be integrated with social networks like Facebook as well as QQ. WeChat also allows businesses to register the official accounts and create a community on the application. It offers a service account as well as enterprise account.

Groups:
• Group size: up to 100 members

Pros:
• Video conferencing
• Easy to broadcast to a group
• Multimedia messaging
• Computer compatibility
• Gaming options

Cons:
• Privacy concerns

So, if you're looking for top instant messaging platforms, these are the ones which you should be looking at. Each of them offers a plethora of features which you would find useful.