Domestic messenger. Russian messengers for android which is better

Communication between people has changed significantly with the advent of the mobile phone, and the ways of communication are rapidly evolving. It all started with emails and messages in social networks, and now 60% of smartphone owners use various instant messengers. Increasingly, there are dissatisfied cries 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. What 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– there may be many of them here too. 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 that you are used to in 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.

Employees of companies around the world use mobile devices for work: it is more convenient and faster for them to solve problems. For the same reason, the popularity of instant messaging programs is growing. But how to combine the messenger and the stringent requirements that are imposed today on information security in business?

Vladimir Pivovarov, development director of Cybernika, one of the creators of the secure Russian messenger Cybrus, knows the answer.

Cnews: Today, company employees actively use a variety of instant messengers, especially on mobile devices. Some developers say that they provide the privacy of correspondence. What is another secure messenger for?

Vladimir Pivovarov:

At first glance, indeed, most instant messengers provide protection mechanisms using encryption. But this is only one of the methods of data protection. Now there are many channels of information leakage, and each needs specific protection.

For example, the data that is transmitted using our messenger is stored both on the server and on user devices, because a business always needs to have access to the history of correspondence with all the necessary documents. But if the device is lost or stolen, the information will fall into the wrong hands, and this can threaten the company. Therefore, to protect the stored data, complex tools are also needed to ensure system security, user control, etc. Simple encryption, as in public services, is not enough.

We searched among the existing messengers for those that would be sufficiently protected, and did not find a single full-fledged implementation. That's why we've created our secure unified communications platform, a tool for instant messaging, calling, and collaboration.

Cnews: Is the server installed by the customer? Who has access to the correspondence data?

Vladimir Pivovarov:

The main difference between our messenger and public services is that the company itself fully controls the operation of the server, as well as all the data that is transmitted and stored with its help.

Even if the Cybrus server is installed in a commercial data center, the data center administrators can only perform general functions and ensure that the system is working. And user and security management is entrusted to a company specialist.

Let's take the problem of leak prevention as an example. Suppose employees work in virtual environment and use remote desktops on which the corporate messenger is installed. There is a threat that the employee will transfer the file from the corporate cloud to the messenger, and then download it from the phone at home. An administrator can prevent such actions by disabling file downloads from the cloud.

Cnews: How did you come up with the idea of ​​not just creating a messenger, but making it a commercial product?

Vladimir Pivovarov:

This idea came up a few years ago when we saw a void in the market. At that time, we were making solutions for protecting data transmission channels for government agencies - the demand for this was quite high, and we faced a problem for business: instant messengers are needed, but there were no secure ones among them. Then, apart from, it seems, there was nothing noticeable at all. For Skype, you can theoretically use secure virtual networks VPN, but this required the creation of a complex and expensive solution that not everyone can afford. There were also free products, but they did not meet other business requirements, such as fault tolerance. So it turned out that even large companies protected only part of their accounts, and the rest communicated over unsecured connections.

Therefore, the idea arose to bring to the market your own messenger, devoid of all the described shortcomings. We have been developing it for three years already, a strong team of programmers is working on it. First of all, we tested the technology - it was necessary because we saw the problems of our predecessors. After all, there were other developers before us, I know examples when a company made a commercial messenger for a year, and then closed the project, because the architecture of the solution was initially chosen incorrectly.

To date, the market situation has not changed; Cybrus has no new competitors. We do not take into account the fact that a lot of public services like or have been released, because users do not control these services and do not control their security. Perhaps today only Skype is being strengthened as a business solution.

Cnews: Which functionality incorporated in Cybrus? Why is he interesting?

Vladimir Pivovarov:

All functions in Cybrus are selected so that a corporate user can quickly and easily solve their work tasks. There are two main types of functions in Cybrus: communication and group work. For communication there is correspondence, video calls, calls to telephone numbers, video conferences, chats. It is possible to moderate group chats and conferences, that is, to do everything that users are used to.

The second part of the functionality is group work. It includes tools for organizing work and managing tasks. You can send files of any type to colleagues. We set ourselves the task of implementing real group work - this is different from what we see, for example, in the SED. A formalized process has been made there regarding the approval of documents, but it is approximately 5% of the work of a regular office worker, when everyone had already talked to everyone, created a document and sent it for approval.

Companies have a need for a solution that will allow them to discuss and quickly solve any problems related to various projects. That is, they need to provide the work that underlies the emergence of documents.

Cnews: There are such categories of customers that are subject to special requirements of regulators in the field of security - these are government agencies, the financial sector ... Does your messenger meet these requirements?

Vladimir Pivovarov:

Yes, in Russia there are several bodies involved in the certification of IT solutions - these are the FSB, the FSTEC, the Ministry of Defense, and we are now in the process of obtaining all the necessary certificates. This certification will enable us to install Cybrus in regulated organizations.

There is a common misconception in the market that as a result of certification, “authorities” get access to corporate correspondence. This is absolutely not true. When checking software products, they are studied for compliance with regulatory documents and, based on the results of the work carried out, a decision is made to issue the appropriate certificates. For example, the FSTEC laboratory makes sure that there are no undeclared features in the program code, that is, that the developer does not gain access to client data through some kind of "back door".

The level of trust in certified solutions is higher, so they are preferred even by commercial organizations without government involvement. And the request for certification usually comes from security personnel who understand how things work.

Cnews: Speaking of the public sector, one cannot fail to mention the inclusion of your messenger in the Register of Domestic Software. Why do you need it, what prospects does it open?

Vladimir Pivovarov:

This gives us more confidence in the future, because we see the state's course towards import substitution. For us, this word means preferences for Russian developments, including us. It turns out that to some extent we have priority over foreign developers.

How does it manifest itself? Even now, when meeting potential customers, we hear the question: “Are you on the Register?” If Cybrus had not been present, some of the meetings would have ended there. And so we are negotiating with government agencies, companies with state participation, and they look at our decisions.

The second side of this issue is our attractiveness to customers as a reliable company precisely due to the presence of domestic software in the Register. If you look at the requirements for suppliers, you can see that among them are not only the registration of a company in Russia, but also the availability of documentation drawn up in accordance with GOST for software products and service work technical support. This shows customers that in six months or a year they will not be left alone with the purchased system, that the developer will deal with them.

Cnews: What forms of licensing are available to customers, will there be functionality restrictions, additional options for separate money?

Vladimir Pivovarov:

We do not use cunning licensing schemes, because we are a Russian company, our market is not used to this. If we make a basic license for basic functions, and then we sell options for video communication and other features, all this will resemble a car dealership: you came to choose a car, focusing on the price in the advertisement, but together with the necessary options, you get such a price for which you didn't expect in the first place.

Therefore, we have made a simple licensing, which includes only three tariff plans. First - "Office"- designed for small organizations. Second - "Company"- provides for installation of the system on a server cluster and is suitable for customers with increased requirements for fault tolerance. And the third - "Corporation" is a proposal for large organizations, which includes customizing Cybrus and branding the interface in a corporate style. Payment for user licenses always goes according to the number of accounts created: there is a person in the system - he can use the messenger on any number of devices.

Cnews: Is Cybrus more of a desktop app or a mobile one? How do you respond to the demands of mobile users?

Vladimir Pivovarov:

Initially, aiming at the business segment of the audience, we focused more on the desktop solution. As a rule, a person in the office sits at a computer, and mobile applications have been particularly strong only in the last couple of years. Therefore, we made the desktop version the richest in functionality, but the mobile version is now catching up with it, and we are making great efforts to do this. Indeed, now it has come to the point that top managers do not even look at the desktop version, but immediately open the mobile client and ask what opportunities it will give them to manage their business.

Cnews: What platforms do you make mobile clients for?

Vladimir Pivovarov:

We invest in only two main platforms covering almost the entire market - Android and iOS. Client for Microsoft Windows we do not plan to release it yet, because this OS has a very small mobile market. But someday we will make a decision for her.

We are much more interested in the Tizen platform from Samsung and the Russian mobile OS under development based on Sailfish. They have a great chance to become the main mobile platforms for the public sector, so we will definitely make software clients for them.

Cnews: How do you plan to develop the messenger?

Vladimir Pivovarov:

In addition to the usual work on improving the functionality that every product developer is engaged in, we will strengthen the capabilities of the messenger related to group work and video. The second direction deserves special attention, because it is very large and promising: many customers are primarily interested in videoconferencing. Here we will continue to improve the interface and image quality.

There are quite a few video conferencing solution providers. We do not plan to occupy the niche of expensive systems, for which employees sign up in advance to use special equipment, huge TVs and video cameras. Our field is daily and convenient communications of employees in the format they are used to in everyday life, using various public messengers and social networks. Cybrus and without additional devices provides video communication and allows you to adjust the image quality.

The further development of Cybrus is also influenced by the wishes of large customers who have a great interest in our solution and partly set the direction of our development.

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 of the social network VKontakte Pavel Durov. Has 62 million active users worldwide;
• 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 program code in general, and Nikolai is responsible for the security of message encryption.

Today, Telegram has 62 million users around the globe.

Like many direct competitors, Telegram can exchange instant messaging, transfer files and supports changing themes. The default design almost completely copies VKontakte. In a word, nothing outstanding, but everything is done on 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.

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 of information security, fully agrees with 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, hardware was also discussed at a closed meeting of the Russian parliament. 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 was just beginning, there were still Russian switches, routers and other telecommunications equipment 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 will simply 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.

Mobile applications have long replaced not only ordinary SMS messages, but also ordinary phone calls. Their popularity is growing every day, which means that there are more and more users. With the help of them, people can communicate with relatives, friends, colleagues, partners, clients, etc. in online mode. By 2018, more than 2 billion people will use messengers. And this is already 80% of smartphone owners ..

TOP 10 most popular instant messengers in the world

Now sending SMS messages is very expensive, and therefore many download and install applications on their smartphones, which are called instant messengers. And in order to send SMS, only the Internet is needed, and now everyone has it in free access. That is why instant messengers are very popular now, and almost everyone has them installed. Here are the TOP 10 most popular instant messengers in the world:

Now more detailed information will be provided about each messenger.

1.whatsapp

It is one of the most popular instant messengers in many countries. In 2016, the number of users exceeded 1 billion. This application was developed in the USA and released in January 2010. It is believed that because of this application, the revenue of mobile operators has decreased significantly, as people began to send all the necessary messages over the Internet for free.

2. Viber

Everyone has heard about this app. Even despite the fact that it appeared in December 2010, this did not affect its popularity in any way. In 2014, Viber took first place among the programs for the exchange of short messages in Russia. It has a very nice design, a huge number of free stickers. It allows you to make and receive calls over the Internet.

3. Facebook Messenger

Integrated with the messaging system on the main Facebook site. That is, if you are registered on this site, then in order to reply to someone's message, you do not need to turn on the computer and go to the site. It is enough to download Messenger and you can reply to a message from your smartphone at any time. About 50 million people download this app every month. For 2017 it is used by more than 1 billion users.

This application was created by Japanese developers and released in March 2011. This messenger is even available for PC. As of 2014, about 400 million people used the messenger. All basic functions are supported. You can receive and make voice and video calls. For a fee, you can buy stickers and other features.

5.WeChat

It is a Chinese design. Supports sending text and voice messages. You can send each other pictures, videos and other files. You can create a general chat with friends, colleagues. Also, this application has a built-in photo editor, automatic translation from leading languages ​​and much more.

6.Telegram

Today it is the most secure messenger. This project was launched by Pavel Durov in 2013. It was positioned as the most reliable communication application. About 200 people can chat in a group chat. The application is synchronized with the number and therefore you do not need to register.

7 Skype

Despite being one of the oldest messengers, it remains popular to this day. Skype was founded in 2003. You can make voice and video calls and, of course, send and receive text messages. The function of simultaneous translation of live speech has been introduced. Up to 9 people can participate in group video calls at the same time.

8 Snapchat

Very popular with young people. Any message, video or photo that is sent to another user will self-destruct after a certain period of time that you yourself have specified. But this happens after the recipient has read the message. Also, this application has a built-in graphic editor that allows you to correct the image before sending it to another person.

9. Kakaotalk

This is a very fast and versatile application. With it, you can send and receive messages, photos, videos, as well as various voice recordings. Funny emoticons and stickers will help you communicate in a fun way and express your emotions. You can download and install it on your smartphone for free. The first version of this messenger was released on March 18, 2010. To date, the application is available in 20 languages.

By using this application you can send text messages and make calls completely free of charge. Installed on your smartphone or tablet, you will be able to make high-quality voice and video calls. You can also express your emotions with free stickers. At any time, it is very easy to find the message that you need.

That's all instant messengers, which are by far the most popular in the world. And every year their popularity only grows. And the developers are trying to improve them to make it even easier for users to communicate with family, friends, colleagues. Download, install instant messengers and stay in touch wherever you are.

Roskomnadzor filed in the Tagansky Court of Moscow demanding the immediate blocking of Telegram in Russia. Representatives of the messenger were supposed to provide the FSB with the keys to decode messages, however, the Telegram administration said that it was technically impossible to fulfill these requirements related to the dissemination of information. 13 April 2018, one of the most popular instant messengers stopped working.

Other famous messengers

ICQ is the most popular and demanded messenger of the late 90s - early 2000s. It's amazing how such an old messenger still attracts an audience. Thanks to regular large-scale updates and the introduction of new modern features, ICQ does not lose its relevance. Here you have the option to call with video, create a group chat and read groups. However, everything is still done somehow inconveniently.

2. Slack

Messenger that replaces email and Skype in work correspondence. For corporate communication, Slack needs to register your company with the specified number of users and field of activity. Later, you have the opportunity to choose the domain where the company's chats will be located. Send invitations to all team members. Without them, it is impossible to be in the account. In addition, chats can be private. There is no Russian version.

3.Twitter

A social network that allows you to exchange messages publicly and for free. You can do this using the web interface, SMS (according to your carrier), instant messaging. Blog postings are called microblogging. This messenger, created by Jack Dorsey in 2006, has gained worldwide popularity. More than half of Twitter users use mobile gadgets, and the site twitter.com has millions of unique visits per month.

4. TamTam

Messenger developed in Mail.ru with chats, groups and sending files. Pretty decent messenger, except for related unnecessary applications from Mail.ru. Of the minuses - linking to an account in Odnoklassniki. This is a long-obsolete social network, the users of which are people of the older generation. Actually, for this reason, TamTam is losing its relevance.

5. VKontakte

One of the largest social networks in Europe. The site is available in over 90 languages; especially popular among Russian-speaking users. Here you can send messages, create pages and communities, share photos, music, documents, play games. In 2017, the average daily audience was over 80 million visitors. Over 460 million registered users. Also in 2017, SimilarWeb recognized VKontakte as one of the most popular instant messengers in the world, where the social network was 7th in the ranking.

On May 16, 2017, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko signed a decree on updating the list of sanctions against a number of Russian companies, including the social networks VKontakte and Odnoklassniki, Yandex, the Mail.ru electronic mail service and other services. Access to them has been completely restricted since June 1, 2017

The world is becoming more and more communicative and we can no longer imagine our life without these inconspicuous helpers in our daily communication - instant messengers.

7th - Snapchat

It is used by about 100 million users. With it, you can send photos, videos, and drawings to your contact list. But it is impossible to communicate simply by text, only "paired" with a visual image. Users set a time limit during which recipients can view their messages. The files are then "evaporated" from the sender's and recipient's devices, but are not deleted from the Snapchat servers.

Benefits of Snapchat

Fast work;

Front camera support.

Disadvantages of Snapchat

The color scheme and interface design are far from the concept of "adequacy";

Incomplete Russian-language interface

6th place - Line

This much-loved chat in Japan is used by 211 million people. Initially, it was intended for mobile phones with Android and iOS operating systems, then a version for BlackBerry appeared, Nokia Asha And Windows phone. There is a version of Line for Windows and Mac OS computers. The "highlight" of the application is the built-in social network where you can blog and post comments.

Advantagesline

The application performs the functions of data transfer, and can also be used as an interesting social network;

The program works on almost all mobile platforms;

Login to the account is carried out by QR code;

Convenient interface.

Flawsline

English menu

5th place - Viber

Photo from pcpress.rs

This creation of Israeli developers is used by 249 million users. PC application syncs contact list, messages and call log with mobile device"host" and allows you to make free calls to any device of other Viber users, regardless of the country of location.

AdvantagesViber

Incredible good quality communications (it is due to this that Skype fades into the background);

The ability to work in the background, while not draining the battery;

Integration with the phone book, thanks to which you can see who else is using this service;

Receive call notifications even if the application is not running;
sending images, SMS, location information, as well as making free calls between users of this service;

Calls to mobile and landline phones are provided;

FlawsViber

Not found

4th place - WeChat

Chinese mobile encrypted instant messaging service with 600 million users. Between April and July 2015, the number of WeChat users grew by 37%, according to the developer of the program, the telecommunications company Tencent. The system supports voice and text messages, makes it possible to share photo and video files and exchange contacts via Bluetooth.

AdvantagesWeChat

The presence of a modern Russified interface in the program;

Provides unique opportunities for dating and exchanging likes;

Allows you to make audio and video calls;

Suitable for any mobile operating systems.

FlawsWeChat

The inability to set a ringtone for messages;

Status cannot be specified.

3rd place - Facebook Messenger

Photo from techspective.net

This application, based on open protocol MQTT is used by 700 million users. By comparison, Skype, the Internet telephony service operated by Microsoft Corp., boasts only 300 million users. Released in 2011 mobile version for BlackBerry, iOS and Android platforms, and in 2012 a version of the messenger for PC appeared. In 2015, users of the service are no longer required to register with Facebook. In order to enter the application, you need to provide a phone number.

Benefits of Facebook Messenger

Well synced with Facebook: when you receive a message, you go to Messenger, but you can also go back to the Facebook feed. But if all this was combined in one application, it would be much more convenient;

The stickers here are extremely diverse. Actually, just sharing these funny emoji can be done endlessly;

Minimalist functionality: it's just a messenger, nothing more.

Disadvantages of Facebook Messenger

Not found.

2nd place - whatsapp

Photo from medium.com/@journey

Facebook Inc. paid $18 billion for WhatsApp, a cross-platform app that currently has over 800 million users. It has a standard messaging function, as well as the ability to create groups and share video, photo and audio files. There is a possibility of fast transmission of audio messages. The program is linked to phone number, not the user ID or nickname, and generates a list of contacts by scanning the owner's phone book for numbers registered in the system.

Whatsapp Benefits

Cross-platform and easy to set up;

Contact list integration address book;

Ability to organize group chats and add media files.

Disadvantages of WhatsApp

Lack of support for other existing platforms, such as Samsung Bada.

1st place - QQ Messenger

Photo from imqq.com

The most popular messenger in the world, developed by the Chinese Tencent. Every month, 843 million people exchange secure messages using it.

Benefits of QQ Messenger

Built-in software store;

Translation in real time;

Capture a small portion of the chat screen or record small video clips and share them with the other party.

Disadvantages of QQ Messenger

If you do not have friends in the Middle Kingdom, then you will not have anyone to communicate with.

Kazakhstanis have not even heard of some messengers from this list. The first place is occupied by Chinese, which is not popular anywhere, except for numerous China. But it should be noted that WhatsApp and Viber are as popular in Kazakhstan as they are all over the world. Let's add here another one that has lost popularity in skype world and Facebook messenger.

Private opinions

Aleksey Bendz, director of corporate communications at Beeline Kazakhstan, believes that WhatsApp is the most popular in Kazakhstan, followed by Skype, Viber, M-Agent and Facebook Messenger.

"Most popular are instant messengers that support calls and video chats, in which you can create communities and groups. Like most Kazakhstanis, I chose WhatsApp. This messaging service has three advantages: the first is the ability to create groups; the second is support for calls and the third - web-version For example, I can start chatting on a PC and continue the conversation on a smartphone,” says Aleksey.

Olzhas Bibanov, head of public relations at Tele2 Kazakhstan, is sure that the reason for the popularity of WhatsApp lies on the surface. In his opinion, initially this messenger was positioned as an application for messages and gave b O more functionality than sms, mms and traditional email. Naturally, such online opportunities were not charged in any way and did not cost anything compared to roaming mobile operators.

“Viber positioned itself as an application for calls, and the Facebook messenger appeared much later than WhatsApp - this explains why they are not as popular as WhatsApp, which together is much more functional than both applications,” Mr. Bibanov is sure.

Increasingly, news is being heard from different parts of the world that hackers or intelligence agencies have gained access to the correspondence of high-ranking officials, celebrities, employees government agencies and so on. Even from the events of recent days, one can give a few examples offhand.

Why is it important to protect correspondence?

Notorious "Russian hackers"

In early June 2017, an American publication called The Intercept published information from a secret NSA report on an investigation into attempts to hack voting systems on the eve of the high-profile US presidential election in 2016. The NSA was able to establish that a certain group of hackers attacked at least one manufacturer of electronic voting systems.
Naturally, the hackers are presumably considered Russian, although no evidence of this has yet been found. However, the fact remains that hackers, whoever they are, have been able to get into the "holy of holies" of American democracy.

Disliked Pavel Durov

At the end of May 2017, Pavel Durov, widely known in Russia, former CEO social network Vkontakte, and now the creator and project manager of Telegram, recently received a message from Google about an attempt to hack his account by “pro-government hackers”. Moreover, on his Twitter page, Durov hurried to upset the special services with a message that he did not use Google service for important correspondence.

Kazakh director at the rally

In the spring of 2017, Kazakh film director Marat Teleuov spoke about his experience of communicating with law enforcement officers. Marat "met" with the police because of his participation in a rally against the transfer of land to foreigners in May 2016. This issue turned out to be topical for modern Kazakhstan; a large number of people, and law enforcement officers responded with mass arrests.
During the interrogation, the director was shown screenshots of his correspondence from Email and social networks, threatening to jail for calling for a rally. Fortunately, Teleuov did not actually call on his compatriots to riot, and as a result was able to prove his innocence. However, the brazen intrusion into his privacy, the pressure during interrogations and the 8 hours spent without food or drink, he remembered for a long time.

Everyone is at risk

The examples listed above show that no one, from the public service to the average person, is immune from situations where the data of the hacked correspondence will be used against him. You might think that the average person, not a celebrity, not a government official, not a political activist, has nothing to fear. However, in reality, your private life can be turned inside out and turned into prosecution arguments at any time.

At the same time, it is worth remembering that your correspondence is also of great interest to intruders. Fraudsters can use it to gain access to your bank card, blackmail and other unpleasant ways to extract money from you. And even more harmless cases, when mailboxes or social network accounts are hacked simply for the sake of sending viruses or spam, cause their owners a lot of inconvenience.

If you want your privacy to remain as such, and so that no stranger dares to interfere in it, you need to develop a culture safe use instant messengers, mail services, social networks, etc. And the main rule of information security is to use only secure messengers for important, confidential, personal correspondence. Today, this topic is quite popular, and therefore quite a few applications guarantee one degree or another of data protection. Let's evaluate the security level of each of them.

Six most secure messengers (according to SECRETVPN)

Signal (previously called RedPhone)

The application appeared in the AppStore in July 2014, and in Google Play– in November 2015. Members of the non-profit organization OWS (Open Whisper Systems) worked on the creation of the messenger. The application can be used to exchange calls and messages with subscribers whose contacts appear in your phone book.

Signal uses "Double Ratchet" end-to-end encryption technology. Signal users who start a conversation immediately initiate the creation of two encryption keys that only exist on their phones. And when they try to call, users see randomly selected phrases on their screens that must match.

No keys are stored on the application servers, as well as information about the messages and calls received by the subscriber. A fan of Signal, as well as other OWS projects, is the well-known Edward Snowden. (tweet from Edward Snowden)

Wire

This application was created by developers from Microsoft, Skype, Nokia and Apple. The first version of the messenger appeared in 2014 and immediately became cross-platform: you can install Wire on Android, iOS, and even Mac OS. Initially, the program differed from its analogues, mainly by the stellar composition of the developers. You can use it to send messages and voice, make group calls and chats, and send music and videos.

However, in 2016, Wire was supplemented with end-to-end encryption. This, again, is the principle that all keys for encrypting and decrypting data are created only on the devices of the participants in the correspondence. Any information that one subscriber transmits to another has an absolutely unreadable form until it reaches the addressee. Essentially, this is the same encryption that Signal uses.

The messenger is registered in Switzerland, a country whose legislation is famous for its respect for privacy. In addition, Wire provides strong data encryption, regardless of what device and OS the subscriber uses.

silent phone

This messenger is one of the tools of the Silent Circle package, which Edward Snowden still calls for in his interviews. Silent Circle is a company that develops various products for secure communications. Its origins are well-known encryption experts: John Callas, Phil Zimmerman, Mike Janke.

In terms of its functionality, the Silent Phone messenger is quite standard: it can be used to write messages and make calls, as well as transfer various files. In addition, users can "revoke" messages that have already been sent, erasing all evidence of their existence in the app. Data transfer is carried out through peer-to-peer computer networks increased stability, while the information is encrypted using the SCIMP protocol - the company's own development.

The SCIMP technology, in turn, is based on the ZRTP protocol. The essence of its application is as follows (on the example of calls):

• when calling a subscriber, a public ID is generated;
• this ID is used to generate keys with which the current conversation will be encrypted;
• at the end of the conversation, the pair of keys formed at its beginning is destroyed;
• after the conversation, no one can decipher the contents of the session from the outside.

You will have to pay to use Silent Circle products (the cheapest plan is just over $10 per month).

threema

Threema is a Swiss-made secure messenger that is quite popular among Russian law enforcement officers, businessmen and civil servants. The functionality of the application is standard: the exchange of text and voice messages, opening group chats, transferring various files, synchronizing contacts, etc.

Until recently, some experts called Threema almost the most secure messenger in existence. The application uses the same end-to-end encryption mechanism, thanks to which the keys necessary to decrypt information exist only on users' devices. In addition, you do not need to enter an email address or even a phone number to use Threema, which made the application as anonymous as possible.

In Russia, this messenger has recently been treated with apprehension, since Roskomnadzor entered it into the Register of information dissemination organizers. How diligently will they follow Russian legislation the creators of the application, and whether this will affect Ukrainian users is unknown, however, many Threema fans now prefer to have confidential conversations in other messengers.

whatsapp

WhatsApp can be called one of the most popular applications for free calling and messaging, group chats, file sharing and similar operations. It cannot be said that this is the most secure messenger, but in 2016 it acquired a mechanism for end-to-end data encryption for all its users.

For these purposes, WhatsApp management agreed with OWS representatives, who provided them with their proprietary Signal Protocol. Keys for encrypting information are not only generated only on subscribers' devices, but also periodically changed so that even if one key is cracked, an attacker cannot read the entire correspondence. Moxie Marlinspike, one of the founders of the Signal messenger, took part in the development of this system.

It is worth noting that WhatsApp was not initially positioned as a secure messenger. One of the first to appear on the market, it won over users, first of all, thanks to the ability to write messages and call other subscribers for free using only an Internet connection. Therefore, it is not necessary to talk about the maximum security of the messenger, especially given its closed code, which does not allow inquisitive users to help WhatsApp developers in finding and fixing vulnerabilities.

However, today the application encrypts user data much more thoroughly than a couple of years ago.

Telegram

The new project of Pavel Durov, which was first released in the summer of 2013, is the most advertised secure messenger in the post-Soviet space. Telegram allows you to send messages, share files, and have group chats. Also in the messenger, you can edit messages, delete them and set up self-destruction after a certain period of time. The account is tied to a mobile phone number, although users can also be contacted by their pseudonyms.

The MTProto protocol developed by Nikolai Durov (brother of the founder of Vkontakte) and other specialists from the Telegram team was used as an encryption method. This protocol combines several popular protocols: RSA-2048 for authentication and authorization, DH-2048 for data encoding, AES for message forwarding, etc.

Although the application really has a high degree of data protection, it’s still not worth saying that Telegram is the most secure messenger. For example, the linking of an account to a phone number is criticized, as well as the fact that the contents of ordinary chats (not secret) and the phone book have been stored on Telegram servers for some time.

Matthew Green, professor of cryptography at Johns Hopkins University, like a number of other experts, questions the advisability of using a proprietary encryption protocol. The professor is especially perplexed about the fact that the protocol was developed not by cryptographers, but by mathematicians who cannot accurately verify that there are no vulnerabilities in its mechanism.

The position of the authorities or what to look for

Representatives of the leadership of various states, as a rule, speak out against increasing the level of security of instant messengers. In Russia, this is the “Yarovaya package”, in the UK, the statement by Interior Minister Amber Rudd about the inadmissibility of encoding information in WhatsApp after the terrorist attack on March 22, 2017, in the USA, permission to use any data from suspects’ phones, and so on.

In most cases, officials justify their position by fighting terrorism and crime. And not all IT companies value the security of their users' data more than "friendship" with the authorities. Therefore, the use of secure messengers that encrypt data so that only users themselves can decode it is becoming an urgent need in modern conditions.

The choice of a specific application is yours, but do not forget to keep your finger on the pulse of events. It is necessary to closely monitor how the relationship between the developers of the chosen messenger and representatives of the state leadership is developing.

We hope our article helped you decide which messenger to choose, we also recommend using

A person, by nature, needs constant communication with other people, so every day an increasing number of applications for communication appear all over the world, and usually these are not the most popular messengers in Russia. Let's see which messengers are the most famous in Russia and find the most ideal option.

The most popular messenger - WhatsApp

In connection with Telegram blocking and thanks to its rich functionality, it is WhatsApp that is the most popular in Russia. More than 68.7% of Beeline customers use this particular application. Other operators also confirmed that WhatsApp is the leader among instant messengers in the country. This is not surprising, because in 2016 there were over 1.2 billion users in the world. The developer himself does not stop at the achieved level, and already in 2018 many useful updates were introduced: deleting messages from himself and his interlocutor, creating channels like in Telegram, and much more.

Most Popular Apps of 2018 - WhatsApp first, Facebook Messenger second

Peculiarities

1. Free communication via messages and calls.
2. Synchronization with a PC using a QR code.
3. Creation of large group dialogues - up to 256 people.
4. Sending various documents, photos, video and audio files, history and location.
5. Address book integration with phones.
6. Access to messages sent while you were offline.

Advantages

1. Friendly interface.
2. High speed.
3. The most popular in Russia.

Flaws

1. There is no platform with games for leisure.
2. Weak message and file security.
3. Reduced quality of sent files.

Runner-up - Facebook Messenger

According to polls, Facebook Messenger is in second place in popularity in Russia after WhatsApp. In addition, it is the most popular messenger in the US. In mid-2016, the number of users exceeded 1 billion and the number of installs on Google Play reached 73 million. The messenger allows you to chat with friends on Facebook without having to go to the browser. Often used to contact a client on behalf of a representative of the organization. Bot settings can significantly reduce the load on operators.

Peculiarities

1. Create group conversations with up to 250 participants.
2. Free calls to friends, including video calls.
3. Exchange of media files: video, photo, audio, etc.
4. Editing photos using the application.
5. View files in your gallery without closing the application.

Advantages

1. You can find contacts by phone number or email.
2. Correspondence is saved automatically.
3. There are a large number of emoticons and stickers.
4. There are no ads at all.

Flaws

1. Does not work with Windows operating system.
2. All data is securely protected from third parties.
3. It is possible to integrate contacts from WhatsApp.
4. There is no way to unsend a message and edit it

Third most popular - Viber

The third place among the most popular instant messengers in Russia and the world is occupied by Viber. As for Russia, it is used by more than 45.7% of VimpelCom's clients and 39.7% of MegaFon's clients. In the Google Play store, the number of downloads is more than 10 million. If you believe the data of the developer himself, then the number of people around the world is over 800 million people. But it should be noted that, despite stable updates, the audience of the messenger is actively falling. You can call, send messages, chat in group chats. Viber is actively used in marketing to conduct advertising campaigns and interaction with clients.

Peculiarities

1. Voice and video calls.
2. Login from a personal computer.
3. Group chats for up to 200 people.
4. Calls not only to users, but also to landline numbers.
5. Participation in public chats.

Advantages

1. Convenient interface.
2. Many emoticons and the ability to change the background for each chat.
3. No ads.
4. Own platform with games.
5. You can chat in thematic chats.

Flaws

1. Security is at a relatively low level.
2. Lots of advertisements from stores and other spam.
3. Long loading times for games and some other features.

conclusions

Which messenger to prefer is a personal matter for everyone. After all, the most popular messenger in the rest of the world will not become as popular in Russia. It is important to have interlocutors among your friends and acquaintances. The top three we have reviewed are worthy messengers for everyone that can provide comfortable and secure communication, file transfer, and many other features. The capabilities of all applications are similar. But if you are looking for the most popular messenger that everyone has, then WhatsApp is the perfect solution. It is the simplest and covers the maximum audience. If you are looking for a more functional version with the ability to organize advertising campaigns and many other features, then Viber is for you. Ask your friends and acquaintances what messenger they use and make your choice based on that.

Communication and sending files have become even more convenient with the advent of instant messengers - special programs for video calls and instant messaging. The world's first messenger (ICQ) appeared in 1996, then Skype gained popularity, and since 2009 similar programs and mobile applications have been released regularly: about 70% of the largest mobile operators in Russia (Beeline, MegaFon, MTS) use instant messengers. Every year the number of users increases by 5 - 7%, while new applications appear. We offer you to get acquainted with the TOP-4 messengers in terms of popularity among Russians.

The "killer" SMS and part-time brainchild of Pavel Durov - the Telegram messenger - broke into the world of messaging in 2013 and immediately became popular, but mainly abroad. In our country, the share of users according to the results of 2017 is only 7.5%. The number of subscribers in the Russian Federation is about 8 million people, of which 1.5 million are active. The total number of users is about 40 million, and the application is most popular in Iran.

Telegram appeared on the wave of media reports about the surveillance of American intelligence agencies over Internet users. An important advantage of the application is the impossibility of hacking correspondence. Among the important advantages of the program, we note the following:

• message encryption;
• fast work;
• the ability to exchange quick messages and files of various formats;
• own cloud storage;
• The maximum number of users in one chat is up to 5 thousand.

This application was originally created for teamwork, so it is optimal for business. Hashtags can be used in correspondence (so far only in Latin), replies and mentions have been added to group chats. Chat users can reply to specific messages by double-clicking on them. When developing the application, Pavel Durov and the Digital Fortress company (translated from English - “digital fortress”) staked on the security and privacy of users.

In addition to encrypted messages, corporate users note the built-in function for synchronizing files and messages between mobile application and PC version. It is also possible to view message statuses (read/not read). With the help of Telegram bots, the largest companies in the country successfully interact with clients: Tinkoff, Alfa-Bank, Qiwi, Tele2, etc. Telegram is a free, safe and convenient communication channel that works on devices with operating systems iOS, OS X and Android, and the readability of messages in it is on average three times higher compared to email correspondence.

A program similar to Skype in functionality appeared in December 2010. Viber app has about 900 million users worldwide, and in Russia it is used by about 82 million people (about a third of the subscribers of the largest domestic mobile operators). The program development centers are located in Israel and Belarus (in the homelands of the founders - Talmon Marko and Igor Magazinnik, who met while serving in the Israeli army).

Since 2016, the application allows you to create public accounts for commercial enterprises. They are designed to provide two-way communication between subscribers and business representatives. Business accounts and public chats can be created upon request, but they are completely free. Other benefits of the app include:

• free calls to anywhere in the world (between Viber users);
• transfer of video, photos, text documents;
• conference chats with support for up to 40 users.

Viber offers automatic search users by phone number from the contact list: just install the application on your smartphone, after which it will analyze the phone book and show which of your friends also have the messenger installed. If the user you want to call does not have the Viber application, use Viber Out to make calls (calls are paid, account balance needs to be topped up).

The advantage of using Viber Out lies in the lower cost of calls compared to mobile operators, which is especially important in roaming and when making international calls. Please note: communication via Viber is free only when connected to WiFi networks. You may be charged for using the program over cellular networks. additional fee. Among the interesting features of the application is the ability to send money transfers between accounts thanks to the company's cooperation with the Western Union system. The function of encrypting messages is responsible for the secret of personal correspondence, but there is another function - creating copies of personal correspondence, which calls into question the fact of security.

The most popular instant messenger in the world - WhatsApp - appeared in 2009. The number of its users exceeds 1 billion, and in our country its audience is 106 million people (more than 40% of the population). Every day, up to 5.6 million Russians use it to send SMS messages, audio and video files, and documents. WhatsApp became the first service synchronized with phone book contacts. Interestingly, the application was developed in California and owned by Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook corporation, but is not very popular in the US. The program is most in demand among users from Spain.

The client works on most platforms, including Windows, iOS, Android, Nokia Symbian, and more. As of 2016, the app is completely free, although previously there was a $1 subscription fee after the first year of use. The program has a lot of business-oriented features, namely:

• sending documents in PDF format;
• synchronization of received files between mobile and desktop versions;
• transfer files stored in iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox;
• authorized business accounts;
• group chats with the ability to add up to 256 participants;
• mass mailing;
• automatic saving of photos to the device gallery;
• sending the current location;
• displaying the status of the message and the history of its delivery.

You can turn off the read status in WhatsApp, and then the interlocutor will not know whether you received his message or not. You can also turn off the display of the last login time - another feature to maintain privacy. In dialogue mode, you can delete any message by tapping and holding (there will be context menu where you can select an action). WhatsApp does not have a full-fledged program for a PC, but there is a web version, which can be accessed by reading a security QR code on a computer screen using a smartphone.

One of the oldest, but still popular messengers - Skype - was created in 2003. This cross-platform software is absolutely free to use when making audio and video calls, as well as sending messages to users who also have it installed. The application uses a closed code, which allows us to talk about a high degree of its security. More than 300 million people around the world use Skype every month, making over 3 billion minutes of daily calls.

The main advantages of the program:

Unlike most IP telephony programs, Skype uses a decentralized P2P architecture, and the only central element is an identity server that stores Accounts And backups contact lists. Special data compression algorithms make it possible to make voice calls comparable in quality to traditional voice calls. mobile phones using an Internet connection with a speed of 30 - 60 kbps.

If you have been using instant messengers for a long time or are just planning to install them, feel free to share your opinion about them on our website - like your favorite programs and make a popular rating with us!