In the digital age that we live in today, the importance of social networking as an integral part of our lives cannot be underestimated one bit. Whereas, once, it could be said that social networking was best left to individuals looking for some entertainment, nowadays, social networking has become the driving force for the globalization movement. Simply put, social networking allows us to connect and interact with hundreds of people at once. There are no boundaries, no limits, so the opportunities presented are endless. In addition, social networking is not all about communication. In fact, it allows individuals to present their creations and offerings to the masses. (PC Mag)
Since we live in a digital age, Smartphones have taken over from what used to be basic mobile phones. The Smartphones that are available today can be made to run hundreds of useful applications that take social networking to a whole new level. Most of us already know about Blackberry's BBM, an application that allowed for instant messaging. However, the application Viber has taken instant messaging to a completely different level. Viber, like BBM, also allows for instant messaging over a network or Wireless connection. However, where Viber excels is in its ability to make calls over a Wireless Internet Connection. Using Viber, people can make calls to anybody around the world, given that the other person also has the application. All that is required is a wireless internet connection, and Viber is ready to work its magic. Perhaps the greatest advantage of Viber is how users can make calls or send messages for free. Moreover, the application itself is free to download, and is available on all the major platforms such as Apple's IOS, Android, Windows Phone, and even BlackBerrys. Lastly, having all these wonderful features does not take anything from Viber's incredible instant messaging capabilities. The application has image sharing, location sharing and group chat features, all of which are a hallmark of quality instant messaging applications. On the flip side though, Viber has some flaws as well. The activation text that the application sends to the user's phone is not always received. Moreover, Viber contacts are not shown in the phone's main contact list, so users have to open up Viber and then make calls. Lastly, Viber does not quite mix with the a Smartphone's interface, and that really, is a shame. (Viber Review)
While Viber is an application that allows for voice calls, Tango builds on the concept and ups the ante. Tango is a free to download application that is available both on IOS and Android. The application lets users makes video calls, using their phone's front or rear facing cameras. Tango has found immense levels of popularity in no time at all, overtaking major competitors such as Yahoo's native Messenger Application. At this point, Tango does sound a lot like Skype. However, Tango differs from Skype in the way it handles video quality, with the quality being noticeably higher on the former. Tango has a lot of things going for it. Perhaps the greatest advantage of the application is how easy to use it is. Tango has a simple, easy to navigate interface, so it can be used by both experts and beginners. Moreover, as stated earlier, Tango lets users switch between either front and rear cameras, so the possibilities are vast. In the same vein, Tango also lets user switch between audio and video during a call, and this is a great feature to have. In addition, Tango is quite easy to set up as well. It does not require users to log in, instead, all the application asks for is a name and phone number. The contact list too, is populated automatically, providing for a flawless experience. Coming to the flaws then, Tango does not really have any major flaws. The quality of video calls over a 3G network is sometimes lacking, but that is a problem of the network itself. Other than that though, Tango is a must have application, and has immense potential. (PC Mag)
While both Viber and Tango are based on making calls, either they are voice or video, Keek is an application that is quite different. In many ways, Keek is like the popular social networking website Twitter. However, while Twitter is text based, Keek lets users to share updates through video, which can be up to 36 seconds in length. Having the ability to share videos on a social networking site has many advantages. Chief amongst these is that videos allow for a personal touch to be added to a message, and the person on the receiving end has a better chance of understanding a message if it is through video. Moreover, Keek allows people to explore other people's lives. The application lets users browse through other users' videos, and this provides for a great opportunity to learn about others. On the flip side though, Keep does not have a notification system. Moreover, since YouTube continues to dominate, there is a question mark whether Keek will be as popular as people think it would be. The length of the videos at 36 seconds too, is quite short. (Keek Review)
It takes no rocket science to understand that mobile applications are the way to go. Moreover, the applications discussed above are the best of the best, being showcases of technology while letting people benefit from their vast qualities. Out of the three applications mentioned above though, Tango comes out on top. The application combines the best of both worlds, is really ease to use, and all has the makings of a future classic.
Works Cited
"Tango." PCMAG. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Feb. 2014. <http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2380052,00.asp>.
"Fat Geeky Guy Reviews: Keek." Maxim. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Feb. 2014. <http://www.maxim.com/tech/fat-geeky-guy-reviews-keek>.
"Viber Review." - Best Messaging App of 2013. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Feb. 2014. <http://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/apps/viber.aspx>.
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