All articles tagged with #instant messaging
Thousands of Discord users reported outages on Friday afternoon, with about 38,000 reports by 4 p.m. ET and initial problems surfacing around 2:45 p.m., concentrated in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle; Discord did not immediately respond for comment.
WhatsApp has introduced a "Favorites" filter to help users quickly access important chats and groups, and make calls directly from the top of the calls tab. The feature, which started rolling out on Tuesday, allows users to add and manage favorite contacts and groups for easier communication. This update follows the introduction of other chat filters like "All," "Unread," and "Groups."
ICQ, the pioneering instant messaging client launched in 1996, will shut down on June 26, marking the end of an era for one of the first widely adopted IM services. Despite its early success, ICQ and other desktop IM clients have been overshadowed by mobile-first messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, which offer more advanced features. The evolution of IM services highlights the constant shift in communication technology, driven by user preferences and technological advancements.
The iconic instant messaging service ICQ will cease operations on June 26, with VK Messenger suggested as an alternative. ICQ, launched in 1996 by Mirabilis and later acquired by AOL, once boasted over 100 million users but declined with the rise of competitors and the end of the dialup era. The service was sold to Russian firm Digital Sky Technologies in 2010, which later became VK. However, VK's apps were removed from Google and Apple app stores in 2022, leaving ICQ users without a direct successor.
ICQ, one of the pioneering instant messenger clients from the 1990s, will shut down on June 26, 2024, after 27 years of service. Originally launched by Mirabilis and later acquired by AOL and then VK, ICQ struggled to stay relevant against newer messaging platforms like Facebook and Google. Users are encouraged to transition to VK Messenger.
ICQ, one of the internet's oldest instant messaging services, is shutting down after 27 years. The service, which was acquired by VK in 2010, will cease operations on June 26. ICQ, launched in 1996 by Mirabilis, was a pioneer in the instant messaging space but saw its user base decline with the rise of social media platforms. Despite its longevity and dedicated user base, particularly outside the U.S., the platform's closure marks the end of an era for early internet communication tools.
ICQ, one of the pioneering instant messaging services, will shut down on June 26th after nearly 28 years. VK, which has managed ICQ since 2010, is urging users to switch to its other chat solutions. ICQ was known for its unique user number system and features like SMS messaging and offline messaging. The service had already been removed from app stores, signaling its decline before this official announcement.
The iconic instant messaging app ICQ, known for its "uh-oh" notification sound, will shut down on June 26 after nearly 30 years. Despite efforts to modernize, ICQ couldn't compete with mobile-first chat apps and dwindled to 11 million monthly users by 2022. Owned by Russian company VK since 2010, ICQ's closure marks the end of an era for one of the early internet's pioneering chat platforms.
ICQ, one of the oldest instant messaging clients, is shutting down on June 26 after nearly three decades. Users are advised to migrate to VK's messaging platforms. ICQ, originally developed by Mirabilis and later acquired by AOL, had 100 million users in 2001 but lost popularity to other messaging apps. VK, which bought ICQ in 2010, has decided to retire the app, focusing instead on its other social media and messaging services.
US antitrust enforcers have warned companies under investigation to preserve and turn over instant messaging records from platforms like Slack and apps such as WhatsApp and Signal, with failure to do so potentially leading to fines or criminal charges. Recent cases have seen concerns raised about deletion of chats and messages, with the Justice Department seeking sanctions against Google for failing to preserve internal communications and the FTC alleging that Amazon employees used Signal to hide communications during an antitrust investigation.
WhatsApp is testing a new feature that allows users to share their screens during video calls to listen to music or watch videos together. The feature, currently in beta testing for Android devices, will enable all users in a call to share their screens, including audio. While the release date is unclear, it is expected to be available for both Android and iOS smartphones next year. However, it remains uncertain if video streaming apps like Disney+, Netflix, and Prime Video will allow screen sharing due to content protection policies.
Beeper Mini, the app that brings iMessage to Android smartphones, has revealed plans to integrate FaceTime, RCS, SMS, Signal, and WhatsApp into its platform. Users may soon be able to make FaceTime audio and video calls from their Galaxy smartphones and tablets. The app will also support SMS and RCS, with plans to integrate Signal and WhatsApp. The developers have announced additional features such as chat history import, chat backups, Android chat bubbles, and an optimized UI for foldable devices. Beeper Mini will be renamed Beeper, while the existing Beeper app may be discontinued in the future.
Discord experienced an hours-long outage due to "unusual traffic spikes," which led to users being temporarily blocked and unable to see their messages. Cloudflare investigated the issue and confirmed that legitimate traffic was caught up in their filters, but the problem has since been resolved.
Discord users have been experiencing "Sorry, you have been blocked" errors when trying to access the platform, prompting an investigation by Discord's engineers. The issue, which started around two hours ago, has been reported on Twitter, Reddit, and Downdetector. While some users have regained access, the problem is believed to be a technical issue rather than a policy violation. Discord's engineers are currently investigating an abnormal rise in API errors, and users are advised to remain patient while the underlying issues are resolved.
Discord is currently experiencing an outage, with users receiving a "Sorry, you have been blocked" message when trying to log in. The issue seems to be connected to a Cloudflare outage and maintenance. Discord is aware of the problem but has not provided an estimated time for service restoration. The mobile app appears to be functioning normally, while the web and desktop apps are affected.