There will be a little less opportunity to communicate with friends, but you can replace your favorite messenger almost painlessly. We offer you 20 alternatives to the brainchild of Pavel Durov for instant messaging.
Let's start with Telegram's obvious competitors. In Russia, WhatsApp is the most popular, followed by Viber and Facebook Messenger.
Hangouts- a messenger that combines the functionality of the previous two. At the same time, it is also a direct successor to the Google Talk instant messaging system, Chats and Hangouts from Google+. Works for mobile platforms Android and iOS and in the browser (on Chromium engine). In addition, Hangouts allows you to broadcast live to YouTube.
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snapchat
Probably the most controversial suggestion to replace Telegram on our list. The whole idea of disappearing messages is cool, but how do you run a channel then? No way. There are no channels here. The application works on smartphones, allows you to send messages with a certain "lifetime". In general, self-destruction of messages after reading is the main one. There are Stories here - which are familiar to most from Instagram. There is also a Discover section, where media such as BuzzFeed, National Geographics, MTV, CNN, etc. publish their "stories". Series have already appeared among such videos.
Bleep
This is a cross-platform messenger from BitTorrent. According to the developers, it uses a peer-to-peer decentralized P2P network for messaging, without the use of servers. That is, encryption occurs directly between two users, and the history of correspondence is not stored anywhere else, except for the memory of the smartphone itself. Text messages, photo transfer and voice calls are supported. No stickers, no channels. And all chats, based on the principles of work, are secret by default.
FireChat
This messenger is only available on iOS and Android smartphones. Its main advantage is the ability to work without the Internet, using wireless networks WiFi and Bluetooth. Each device with the client installed becomes a repeater for other devices that are detected within a radius of 60 meters. Networks created according to this principle should perform well when it comes to communication - the developer positions the application for communication in nature or football matches. By the way, if one or more devices on the network have access to the Internet, then all users of the messenger nearby will be able to send messages online.
threema
Another secure messenger from Switzerland - here, when registering, you don’t even need to indicate your phone number or your mail. Each application user is assigned a unique ID, on the basis of which the keys for encryption and decryption are generated. Features "classic" - exchange of test messages, group chats, forwarding photos and videos. Works on smartphones (iOS, Android and Windows) and in the browser.
signal messenger
From Edward Snowden. Encryption protocols from Signal, developed by Open Whisper Systems, have long been recognized as reliable and have been adopted by other instant messengers, including the previously mentioned WhatsApp and Allo. The functionality is standard - messages and file transfer.
Slack
This messenger is suitable for companies that used Telegram for work communication. Slack is self-hosted and allows you to integrate almost 100 third-party services like Dropbox, Google Docs, Twitter or MailChimp. Communication takes place in open channels, private groups and private messages. Free version is available for an unlimited number of participants, but only 10 services can be integrated, which should be enough for small and medium-sized businesses. It is worth considering that the messenger does not have a separate application - it works as a web service.
If all of the above does not suit you, then you can always return to ICQ - apparently. ICQ has video chats, group chats, stickers and calls - all this is encrypted and works on various platforms. Do not forget about the cross-platform [email protected] - from the same Mail.ru Group. In addition, we have at our disposal different platforms is - the pioneer of ip-telephony - with group chats, group video calls and conference calls. And there is always the opportunity to send an SMS or call, in the end - there is also such an archaic thing as live communication at a meeting.
Contrary to popular belief, messengers for smartphones are also being developed in Russia. Of course, they do not have such worldwide distribution as industry giants WhatsApp or, for example, Line, but some of them are not bad at all and even won fans outside of Russia.
Here is just a small list of national messengers:
- Telegram - perhaps the most widespread at the present time Russian manager for smartphones from the author social network Vkontakte Pavel Durov. Has 62 million active users around the world;
- Kuku-AU is a messenger with a funny name, however, designed for serious purposes. It is positioned by the authors as an application for communication between Russian businessmen and relevant services;
- Rugram is a messenger with a patriotic flavor from the Kremlin youth movement. The code is based on the open part of the Telegram program, there are specific patriotic stickers;
- Avirton is a messenger that specializes exclusively in financial management. For example, money transfers, buying and selling shares. Developer Dmitry Karaev;
- FireChat is an interesting development from the Moscow State University graduate Stanislav Shalunov. This messenger allows you to communicate even with a completely absent cellular communication and the Internet. Messages are received and transmitted within a radius of up to 70 meters directly between devices on which the application is installed.
Telegram
Russian manager for smartphones deserving special attention.
On August 14, 2013, the first version of this most popular domestic messenger was released. As you know, the developers of Telegram are the Durov brothers, moreover, Pavel (the founder of the social network VKontakte) is responsible for the functionality and programming code in general, and Nikolai for the security of message encryption.
Today, Telegram has 62 million users around the globe.
Like many direct competitors, Telegram can IM, transfer files, and supports changing themes. The default design almost completely copies VKontakte. In a word, nothing outstanding, but everything is done at a high level. Simple, tasteful and high quality. It is gratifying that the messenger is absolutely free.
The most attractive feature for some subscribers is the security and secrecy of communication from unauthorized persons. According to the memoirs of Pavel Durov himself, Telegram was conceived as a means of secure communication with his brother. Later, the project grew into an international one. A specially developed protocol encrypts the message at the sending stage, directly on the user's device. In the future, it passes through several servers, so if you wish, you can hide the place of sending. Telegram also implements the function of self-destructing a message on a timer. Information is deleted directly from the server, which is an additional plus for security.
At one time, Pavel Durov announced a competition for "best hacker"
The one who can hack the correspondence in Telegram was promised 200 thousand dollars. No one received the main prize, but one of the users, who, by the way, was not even an expert in the field of encryption and security protocols, discovered a vulnerability. He received a well-deserved 100 thousand dollars, after which Telegram became even safer. Also, the service does not limit the size of attachments and is built on an open source code. This allowed the already mentioned patriotic messenger Rugram to appear.
Messengers today are perceived by the average user as an integral part of everyday life. Meet a man who wouldn't use to operational communications with friends and family at least one special application for a smartphone, it is almost impossible. Unfortunately, so far not a single Russian messenger is able to compete with the recognized giants of online communications, such as, whatsapp and Skype.
And it's not just the specifics of the functionality of the services. An important role is played by the competent promotion of applications, which requires huge investments of material resources. To appreciate the scale of the costs, it is enough to recall that Whatsapp was bought by Facebook for a record amount at that time - $ 19 billion. How much money was spent on promotion at the start of the application launch is unknown, but we can safely say that this number had at least six zeros.
The capabilities of Russian developers do not allow appealing such amounts, so promising domestic services are not yet able to penetrate the world market. In any case, the development prospects for teams of specialists interested in developing unique applications for communication are significant. A well-known example is the young Telegram messenger, whose founder Pavel Durov threw his energies into conquering the hearts of users from all over the world a few years ago, but more on that later.
Top 4 best Russian messengers
In Russia, the development mobile applications for text messaging, media files and communication is in full swing.
Currently, 4 services are widely known:
- Rugram;
- Cook-AU;
- Avirton;
- firechat.
Telegram is not included in this list, since the application has already gone beyond the Russian online space and is positioned as a collective development of qualified specialists not only from Russia, but also from other countries. Finding the answer to the question of which messenger is the most popular can only be done by considering each service separately and highlighting its functional features.
Rugram, as the name implies, is based on the open part of the Telegram program. This young messenger is characterized by a patriotic orientation, it is actively promoted by members of the Kremlin youth movement. The service allows the exchange of stickers, in the development of which the ideas of patriotism played a significant role.
Kuku-AU is positioned by the authors as a convenient platform for communication between Russian entrepreneurs and special services. The target audience Applications are participants in various business processes. It is too early to talk about the resounding success of the service among businessmen, but the service has already achieved certain achievements.
Avirton Financial management notes its main specialization: money transfers, operations with securities, shares, and other tasks. Application developer Dmitry Karaev is a successful entrepreneur with dozens of successfully implemented projects behind him.
fire-chat is an interesting development of the young talent Stanislav Shalunov, a graduate of Moscow State University. Distinctive feature of this application lies in the possibility of communication even in the absence of cellular Internet connection. True, the use of the service is allowed only between devices with installed application located at a maximum distance of 70 meters from each other. Of course, this figure is small, but who knows, maybe this technology in the future, it will allow to do without cellular communication at a more impressive distance.
Top 3 Apps to Chat with Global Fame
If they started their history less than a decade ago, then Skype has been known to users since 2003. During this time, the functionality of the program has undergone tremendous changes, thanks to which the service has really become more convenient than the original version, however, constructive criticism is constantly being heard regarding Skype today.
The claims of the mass consumer are justified: the quality of sound and video communication, even in conditions of a stable Internet connection, leaves much to be desired, which is why the lion's share of active Skype users in the past turned their attention to Viber. Exactly at this application communication quality is currently presented at the highest level.
As for the world-famous applications, which should be primarily attributed to, each of the listed services has its own characteristics. You can download any of the messengers listed for free for devices on the platforms iOs, Android and more. etc. It is recommended to download only from official sources, for example, from AppStore and play market.
Communication between people has changed significantly with the advent of mobile phone and communication methods are rapidly evolving. It all started with emails and messages on social networks, and now 60% of smartphone owners use various messengers. Increasingly, there are dissatisfied exclamations about unwanted calls with a call to transfer communication to the messenger. This is not just a trend, but a new established way of communicating.
At the end of May, Russian developers introduced a new mobile messenger TamTam - in it, like in other similar applications, you can chat with friends and subscribe to small thematic blogs and channels. We decided to review TamTam and understand what is interesting about it.
Whom to communicate with
An important point - after installing the application, you can find your friends and immediately write to them. Which is generally rare for new messengers or social networks. The thing is that TamTam was created on the basis of the OK Messages application - the audience of this messenger was inherited by the new application.
You can also find users of the Odnoklassniki social network in TamTam. If you have an OK account and logged into TamTam using it, then in the "Contacts" section you can find any person with a profile on this social network and write to him. Thus, by installing TamTam, you will stay in touch with your friends.
If there is no account and you just logged in by phone number, then contacts from your phone book will be loaded - there can also be many of them here. For example, the author of this article in the messenger found both relatives and close people, and even old acquaintances living in the regions. A good reason to write to friends or those with whom you have not communicated for a long time.
Of course, you should not expect that all your friends are already here - the application is only a month old. How quickly they get here is in your hands. Like to chat in TamTam - invite friends using a special button in the "Contacts" section.
How to communicate
It has everything you are used to in instant messengers: you can send not only text messages, but also photos, record video or audio, use emoji, gifs, stickers. You can even download a live broadcast directly inside the application - for example, from the OK Live service. Insert a link in the chat to your live broadcast - and the interlocutor (or several interlocutors - if this is a group chat) will be able to open it right inside the messenger.
TamTam also has interesting animated stickers - the creators of the application call them “live”. These are stills from films, and funny gifs with animals or children, and in general - everything that can illustrate an idea better than any words. To make it easier to pick up a sticker, there is a search: open the showcase of stickers, enter any word: at least “thank you”, at least “see you” - the application will select the most suitable emotions for you.
TamTam is a new application that is being actively developed and improved, therefore, in fairness, it does not yet have all the opportunities for communication. However, soon the developers promise to add even the ability to call directly from the application - in audio or video format. They say that there will be new features that will help diversify communication.
One of the main features of the new application is thematic blogs, or channels. These are feeds of messages on a specific topic that you can subscribe to and receive regular updates from them. Channels in TamTam appear in the same message list as the main chats.
Channels in the messenger are already run by a variety of people: ordinary users who share interesting thoughts, videos and photos; celebrities - for example, and a popular journalist and TV presenter; major media outlets, including There are channels with news and legal advice, channels about gadgets and history, channels of bloggers and journalists. In general, in TamTam you can not only communicate, but also have something to read - and even watch: many authors post photos and interesting videos.
Channels are not yet such a popular feature of instant messengers as correspondence or group chats. Still, we all choose one or another messenger primarily for the opportunities for communication. But the channels are interesting, if only because thanks to them, the messenger is not just an application where you can write to a friend or send a photo to your mother. With channels here, you can, for example, read the morning news or just learn something new - without looking up from your correspondence.
In the next article, we will tell you how channels are developing in modern Russian and foreign messengers and why they will soon become an integral part of our mobile communication with you.
At a closed meeting of deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation and the head of the FSB Alexandra Bortnikova the issue of creating a domestic messenger was discussed. Equally, both in parliament and in the FSB, this area of work is considered fundamentally important from the point of view of national security.
“I think that a change in legislation will be required for the introduction of their messengers in Russia and the development of microcircuits. This is very important, ”REN TV quotes the words of the deputy chairman of the Duma Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption Dmitry Saveliev.
Russian messenger
Alexander Vlasov, an expert in the field information security, I fully agree with the Russian legislators.
“The creation of Russian software and a messenger is an extremely urgent task. These are one of the few non-commodity products that we can not only successfully develop, but also export abroad. The example of Kaspersky Lab, the Center for Speech Technologies and our other companies shows that Russia can create quite competitive products in this area,” the expert noted in an interview with a reporter. Federal News Agency.
The task of creating an efficient and secure Russian messenger, Vlasov believes, is best handled not by government agencies, but by private capital. The Russian private sector has the potential to create a messenger that will work in the same way, and perhaps even more efficiently than the same Viber, WhatsApp or Skype. “Still, the latter, as we know, was also developed by Russian programmers,” the expert emphasizes.
If such a messenger is safe and will solve both user problems and national security problems, then its distribution and implementation will not even have to be facilitated from outside. Changes in Russian legislation will play only a secondary role here.
Russian "iron"
It is known that along with computer systems and software at a closed session of the Russian parliament, hardware was also discussed. Bortnikov and the State Duma deputies noted the importance of creating and introducing computer devices based on Russian developments in government agencies. According to Vlasov, from the point of view of information security, this task is perhaps even more important than the development of a messenger.
Now Russia is far behind in this respect. The vast majority of components for computer equipment comes to the country from abroad. Therefore, potential ill-wishers of the Russian Federation - for example, Western intelligence agencies - are able to penetrate Russian closed systems, using not only software, but also the devices themselves on which it is installed.
“In the 90s, when the development of cellular networks, Russian switches, routers and other telecommunications equipment were still present on the market. Of course, it was assembled from Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean and Japanese components. Nevertheless, all this was subjected to thorough special checks and assembled into a finished product based on Russian algorithms. Unfortunately, in the 2000s, all this potential was lost,” Alexander Vlasov explains.
Of course, one jerk to return the lost will not work. Now Russian manufacturers simply will not be able to compete with such foreign companies as IBM, Huawei and Cisco.
“Nevertheless, we can take Western hardware and subject it to special checks in order to exclude all undeclared possibilities for interfering in its activities. This is what we can do. Moreover, it is necessary to do this in order to close all back doors, vents and air ducts that compromise our national security,” Alexander Vlasov sums up.