In the past, mobile phone users used short messaging services to communicate more often than they do today. The service providers seized the opportunity and created subscription plans. Users had to pay huge monthly fees just to send and receive voice messages between friends, family and business associates.
What are the differences between WhatsApp and iMessage?
In 2009, Yahoo employees came up with an idea that was simple – a messaging app. App stores were gaining popularity at the time and smart phones had become more popular. In 2009, this idea was transformed into WhatsApp and in 2011, Apple launched its own app iMessage.
1. Platform
WhatsApp was exclusively available on the App Store when it went live in November 2009. This version was created for iPhone. WhatsApp began supporting Blackberry smart phones in January 2010. It also supports Symbian OS, Android OS and Blackberry OS. Also, a beta version for the Nokia Series 40 was added, which is a non-smart phone. The app is available on Android OS and Blackberry OS. It also runs on Symbian OS and Windows 8 or higher. WhatsApp is available on five operating systems.
iMessage was created for Apple devices, namely the iPhone or iPad. The app was first launched in 2012 and was capable of delivering 28,000 messages every second. It now supports iOS, macOS, and watchOS.
What’s the difference between iMessage and WhatsApp? WhatsApp is cross-platform, while iMessage only runs on Apple devices.
2. Connectivity
WhatsApp uses network connectivity for sending and receiving messages and multimedia content between WhatsApp servers on the smart phone and the user. There are two options for connectivity: mobile data or Wi-Fi. Mobile data comes from the service provider, and the user will be charged according to the plan that they choose. Mobile data can be expensive, especially when sending, receiving and playing multimedia (videos). Mobile connectivity can be an issue in certain areas. WhatsApp users can use Wi-Fi. WhatsApp users will have to wait until Wi-Fi is available if they are unable to connect.
iMessage vs WhatsApp International: Not only can the app use mobile data as well as Wi-Fi, but it also can revert to a standard short messaging service if neither option is available. You can continue to chat with your friends.
The internet and Wi-Fi connection has allowed for a reduction in the data consumption of WhatsApp vs iMessage.
3. Access to the Internet via PC
WhatsApp announced in January 2015 that PC users would have access to its web client. Koum, one of the co-founders, described the web client like an extension to a smart phone. The web client should mirror the conversations and messages on the smart phone. The web client is supported by major browsers such as Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Edge, but not Microsoft Internet Explorer. Your mobile phone needs to be connected to the Internet in order for the web client function. It’s a good idea to connect to Wi-Fi because mobile data is expensive. The web client is very similar to WhatsApp on Android.
There is no web client for iMessage that allows users to view their messages on a PC. Apple has approved only one solution: a Mac.
4. Messaging Protocol
Statista reports that WhatsApp has 1.2 billion active monthly users as of January 2017. This is up from the 1 billion active users in February 2016. As the service grows in popularity, more users are joining. WhatsApp developers have customized a version of the Extensible Messaging Protocol to ensure better security for sending multimedia content and messages between users. This is a messaging protocol based on extensible markup. This protocol, which was first introduced in 1999, is an open standard.
Analysts have estimated that iMessage receives more than 63 quadrillion iMessages per year. This is equivalent to over 200,000 messages per second. Apple uses the Apple Push Notification Service to ensure users get the best possible experience. This is a notification system that allows apps on Apple devices to share notification data. This proprietary binary protocol establishes a Keep Alive Connection with Apple servers.
5. The Security of Your Own Home
The security features of WhatsApp iMessage are very similar. Both apps use end-to-end encryption to ensure that messages are secure, whether they are being sent or received. Both apps are not able to protect you against the use of spying software like mSpy. These spying apps are installed directly on iOS and Android devices. This allows the software to intercept messages sent by users.
Final Thoughts
WhatsApp and iMessage, despite their differences, are both useful messaging apps that have a large user-base. These apps let you communicate with your family and friends via your smartphone for free. You can avoid the SMS and voice calls fees that your mobile provider charges. You can also create groups to send mass texts. WhatsApp users can mass text up to 256 people simultaneously. You can continue the conversation on larger devices. WhatsApp, for example, connects to your iPad and Mac while iMessage only connects to your iPad and Mac.
Video and voice calls are also important. Keep in touch with your family and friends for a cheaper price. How? WhatsApp uses the internet to route your calls instead of BTS platforms, saving you money on call charges. You are safe when it comes to security. Both apps provide end-to-end encryption as a default. All messages, multimedia, video, and voice calls will be encrypted. You are safe from anyone spying on you.