In this data visualization video I look at the most popular instant messaging apps based on monthly active users. It includes the first graphical instant messaging app, PowWow. It was far ahead of its time but did not gain much traction.
I know there are many more apps but their numbers were either missing or inaccurate. Here are the ones I included:
1995
PowWow
First Graphical Standalone IM Client
First with VoIP, whiteboard, text-to-speech, surf together, audio player
1996
ICQ
First widely adopted IM client
1997
AIM
Initially integrated into AOL Desktop
1998
Yahoo! Messenger
1999
QQ
Popular in China
1999
MSN Messenger
AKA Windows Live Messenger
2003
Skype
Focused on video-chat
2005
Google Talk
2005
Blackberry Messenger
2009
WhatsApp
Developed by former Yahoo employees
2009
Kik Messenger
Reached 40% of US teens by 2016
2010
Viber
2011
WeChat
2011
iMessage
2011
SnapChat
2012
LINE
2012
Hike Messenger
2013
Telegram
2013
Facebook Messenger
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