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Are you visiting Turkey, Spain, the UAE, or elsewhere for pleasure or business? Have you already decided how to contact your friends at home? There are many communication ways one can use in 2023. Even too much. To date, it is hard to meet people who do not use messengers at all, and you are unlikely to know at least one such person. More than a hundred messengers exist alone. And it can be pretty challenging to pick the one to use abroad.
Related: “The best Apps for Travelers in 2023“
Different messaging apps are popular in different parts of the world. For example, in North America, the audience is literally obsessed with Facebook Messenger. In China, finding those who do not communicate with friends and family via WeChat is almost impossible. Whatsapp and Telegram are popular in Russia.
So, what messenger should you choose when traveling abroad? Read on to learn about popular messengers and how to choose the best communication solution.
Messengers — Definition and History
What is messaging app and how does it work? Most users connect with friends, colleagues, and family not via cellular calls but using online messengers. It’s cheaper and comfy! The main thing is to choose a suitable application for use at home or while traveling abroad.
Messenger history briefly
EMISARI was the very first messenger. A particular government communication program allowed users to quickly communicate with each community member. The given system was created in 1971. It was the first multi-machine chat program worldwide. After that, Internet Relay Chat (IRC) appeared for instant messaging between civilians.
In Russia, the first messenger prototypes came in the early 2000s. The notorious ICQ has become pretty popular those days, and many used this PC program for casual chatting online. Besides, ICQ has received recognition for a reason, as it is most similar to modern messaging apps in terms of functionality.
With IT development and the advent of smartphones based on iOS and Android, people could use the Internet almost around the clock — and without paying huge sums for downloading one funny viral video. Since smartphones became a part of everyday life, there was a need for a “mobile messenger,” that is, a program that works on mobile devices.
Messaging apps of modernity
Modern messaging apps differ from their predecessors. Today, you can pass registration just using a phone number, which significantly simplifies restoring access to an account in case of hacking or loss of a password, for example. Another difference is that users can send a file without waiting for the recipient’s approval, even if the recipient is offline. Such functions have eliminated the need to correspond while being online with the interlocutor simultaneously — you can read and send a message when it is convenient.
Top Messengers to use Abroad in 2023
Download a convenient messenger on your phone or tablet to stay connected abroad. Which app should I choose? It matters where exactly you plan to go and which messenger options you need first. Let’s compare which types of the best messenger app exist today and in which countries they are most common.
Skype
Skype is actively used for business conferences, meetings, and presentations. It is also in great demand with ordinary users. They install Skype for casual chatting with friends, family, etc.
Developers have recently upgraded Skype by designing a more thoughtful display configuration. And from now on, adding objects to this messenger is possible by simply dragging and dropping. The program implements automatic acceptance of the sent file by the interlocutor. Skype is popular in countries — Europe, Russia, USA.
Skype drawback: it can be placed in the category of “software heavyweights.” If you have launched the program with a photo or video editor and even opened a dozen tabs in the browser, be prepared for failures.
Viber
Viber has a pretty nice interface and a user-friendly menu. One of its most fabulous functions is that Viber users can redirect the current call from a PC to a mobile device. This is a unique and very convenient option. But for this, the messenger must be activated both on PCs and smartphones.
Also, many users note the high stability of Viber. All sent messages and photos are saved on the server and displayed in any version, no matter which device you log in.
If necessary, the encryption function can be activated in Viber. Encoded data is transmitted when using it, and the key to unpacking information is located only on end-user devices. Viber is primarily popular in Europe and the USA.
Viber drawback: when using the messenger on several devices at once, in case of a communication failure with the leading mobile gadget, desktop versions of Viber will periodically require authorization.
This is a №1 messenger for communication abroad in Europe, the USA, and some Asian countries. This application is available for smartphones, tablets, and PCs thanks to the innovations of WhatsApp Web and its desktop mode. Through this platform, you can send text messages, images, videos, GIFs, voice and audio messages. Messages, photos, and audio recordings sent in the chat are protected by end-to-end encryption.
This utility is free and available for all popular operating systems: Android, iOS, Blackberry OS, Windows, and others. And yet – unlike other apps, WhatsApp does not show ads. This represents a significant advantage from different points of view.
WhatsApp drawback: once a message has been sent, it cannot be canceled. You can delete it from the conversation, but this will not prevent another user from receiving it.
Telegram
Using the Zero-knowledge algorithm, the application has reliable message encryption and can send and receive various files via the cloud. Voice calls are also protected from “wiretapping.” Moreover, the Telegram makers have installed strong protection for user data and correspondence history.
In the program, you can delete sent messages after a specified time has elapsed. Telegram is one of the best messengers in Russia, Belarus, and some European countries.
Telegram drawback: weak technical support service that is in dire need of improvement. Besides, this messenger merges subscriptions and regular chats into one screen. You could hardly recognize ordinary conversations if you signed up for a dozen active channels.
