In a surprising move, Samsung has announced the launch of a brand new cross platform messaging service called ChatOn for smartphones and feature phones. The platform is in similar lines to the likes of Blackberry Messenger and WhatsApp both of which are established players in this segment. Unlike BBM though, this service would work across various mobile OS platforms and brands.
Apart from “common” features like one on one chat, group chat and the ability to share multimedia content over the app, Samsung has also added a social angle to the app with the ability to view and comment on pictures uploaded using the app. These pictures are stored in a section known as the “Trunk”. Users can also invite their friends for events and online meetings using the app. The announcement of ChatOn comes at a time when Apple is readying the launch of its own iMessage service for iOS devices. Like Blackberry, however, this service too would only work across iOS 5 devices.
Services like WhatsApp and BBM have started replacing the traditional SMS messages because of the lower data costs involved. While SMS continues to generate considerable income for carriers across the globe, there have been reports of the technology fast going “out of fashion” because of the advent of much more feature packed services like these.
ChatOn would be demoed at the upcoming IFA conference at Berlin. The software would come preloaded on all supported Samsung handsets in the near future. It would be available as a free download for phones on other platforms soon. The service would go live in September 2011.
