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Samsung's ChatOn service will shut down next year (update)
After denying reports that its ChatOn service was close to being disbanded on a region-by-region basis, Samsung has announced in Korea that it's going away. According to Yonhap News, Samsung's statement said it will close up shop on February 1st. It's not immediately clear whether or not that will hold across all regions, but Samsung went on to state that users would be able to back up their data before the shutdown. The company blamed "changing market conditions" for the change, but seems that despite a claimed 100 million strong user base, people weren't really using the software preloaded on so many smartphones. Update: We contacted Samsung and were told that on February 1st, ChatOn will shut down in all markets except for the US. In the US, it will shut down at some point in Q1, but a date has not yet been announced.
Samsung says its ChatOn messaging service is staying put
Samsung may have shut down some of its services in recent months, but ChatOn? It's not going anywhere. While The Korea Times claimed that Samsung was going to drop its messaging service on a "region-to-region" basis because it wasn't making cash, the company tells The Verge that those rumors are "false." The service will stick around for people "worldwide," it says. That's good to hear, although it's true that ChatOn isn't the most popular messaging hub around. While you can use it on most modern devices, it had 100 million users at last check -- a fraction of what you see at powerhouses like WeChat (600 million) and WhatsApp (over 500 million). That's healthy, but it's clear that many see ChatOn as a bonus on Samsung devices rather than a must-have social tool.
Shocker! Nobody uses Samsung bloatware
If you used a Samsung app recently it was possibly a mis-click, according to a Strategy Analytics survey of 250-plus Galaxy S3 and S4 users. While Samsung recently trumpeted 100 million users for ChatOn, for instance, the report said US users spent a mere six seconds per month on the app, compared to, say, 151 minutes on Instagram. The rest of the suite fared little better, with users spending no more than seven minutes per month on all its apps combined. By contrast, users stayed on Facebook for 11 hours and Google's three most popular apps for 150 minutes on average. If accurate, that would be a stinging rebuke, given that Samsung's apps are pre-installed on most of its devices and can't be removed easily -- unless, ironically, you're in its home country.
Samsung's ChatON now lets you recall those embarrassing messages
In an effort to get owners of its smartphones to actually use ChatON, Samsung has thrown numerous features at the messaging app to see what sticks. For instance, it's just gifted inveterate file sharers with 1GB media transfers and given FourSquare types the ability to divulge their position and route via Glympse. But it also came up with a feature that may resonate more: the ability to cancel a missive. Provided you're in a one-to-one chat, you can now tap the message bubble and hit "recall" to delete a text on the recipient's device, even if they've already read it. Samsung says that'll be handy if you text the wrong person, but we know what that feature's really for.
Samsung bakes SMS support into ChatON for Android, because please use ChatON
Between social networks and a near infinite number of messaging apps, there are frankly too many ways us humans can keep in touch. With so many platforms competing for a slot in your app drawer, some are attempting to absorb SMS traffic and become your one-stop messaging shop. Google Hangouts was updated a month ago with SMS support (stock Android 4.4 KitKat does away with a pre-loaded SMS app altogether), and now Samsung's ChatON for Android has followed suit. The latest version of the app allows you to set it as your SMS/MMS inbox, though the feature is only live in Germany and Brazil at the moment. Not that anyone uses ChatON, but it's another mixture of cellular and data threads that's a recipe for confusion. Facebook recently killed SMS integration from its messaging app due to poor uptake, probably because users still prefer the distinction. Everyone uses Snapchat exclusively now anyway, right?
ChatON for Android gets a fresh coat of paint and new social features
We know that ChatON is doing quite well in places like China and India, having recently crossed the 100 million user threshold. (We also know that it isn't really catching on here in the US.) But, for all its useful features, it's never been a particularly pretty application. Thankfully, Samsung has given the Android version of its messaging / social networking app a little bit of Holo love. ChatON 3.0 is flat as flat can be, and even plays host to a bevy of new socially-minded features. For instance, you can now customize your MyPage (profile) with a background image plus you can post images, videos and locations to the pages of your friends. There's even the ability to share content directly from Samsung's LIVEpartners. Loyal users can hit up Google Play for the update, while everyone else can continue to pretend ChatON doesn't exist.
Samsung claims 100 million people use its ChatOn messaging service
Though we haven't received any ChatOn messages ourselves lately, Samsung says that its messaging service has caught on with some. In fact, it's just chalked up a "global subscriber base" of 100 million folks in around two years, thanks to its availability on diverse platforms like iOS, Android, Bada, the web and Windows Phone. Samsung singled out China and India as key markets for the service and touted features like drag-and-drop media sharing and the ability to hand-write messages with an S Pen-equipped device. Though the numbers sound good, we're not sure if the Korean company is counting active users or just those who registered out of curiosity because it came pre-installed on their phones. By contrast, WhatsApp counts 300 million subscribers who use the service monthly. We've reached out to Samsung to confirm and maybe we'll get around to registering for the service ourselves, some day.
Samsung doubles down on its web-based messaging app with ChatON 2.0
If you like to let your fingers do the talking but basic text and smileys alone don't cut it, Samsung has just released version 2.0 of its ChatON internet-based messaging app. It works on Android, iOS, Blackberry, Bada and even web browsers to let you send missives to your besties -- alone or in groups -- with video, audio or images. The updated app / website works in over 200 countries and 60 languages, and now includes a multiscreen feature to let you chat with over five separate accounts at once along with the ability to conscript new chat-ees via Facebook or Twitter. You'll still be able to post messages to the "trunk" for friends to see before they hit social networks or create a personal profile with status updates -- so, hit the source for more info, social butterflies.
Samsung ChatON for Android gets Olympic Buddy feature, also sports a new logo
Ever since its debut late last year, Samsung's ChatON application has been a moderate hit amongst folks using iOS, BlackBerry, Windows Phone and Android devices. Now, along with outing a slightly redesigned logo (pictured above), the Korean outfit's also updated its app in Google's sweet OS to version 1.9.5 on handsets, or 1.7.3 if you're handling one of those larger slabs. Most notably, the ChatON refresh brings the London 2012 spirit with a timely "Olympic Buddy" feature, which keeps you in the loop by pushing out breaking news, daily schedules and, of course, medal tables. Additionally, there's now a walkie-talkie service within the phone application, while the tablet variant gained the ability to send documents to your friends -- not to mention it finally lets you use fancy emoticons. Feeling pretty antsy to give it a try? That Google Play link below will take you there.
Samsung Galaxy Chat brings Nature UX to the messaging crowd
We didn't have to wait long to find out what Samsung would do with the GT-B5330 we saw just a day ago: meet the much more elegantly-titled Galaxy Chat. The finished product is Samsung's first phone outside of the Galaxy S III to carry the Nature UX layer, but takes it in a very message-happy direction with a QWERTY keyboard, a bundled copy of Quick Office and a dedicated key for ChatON that reminds us of the BlackBerry Curve 9320's BBM shortcut. Not that you'd confuse the two otherwise, as the Galaxy Chat's 3-inch, 480 x 320 touchscreen and 4GB of built-in storage (plus a microSD slot) are decided steps up. About our only letdowns relative to the category are the 2-megapixel, flashless camera at the back and the difficulty some will have in getting their hands on Samsung's first keyboard-touting Android 4.0 phone. Unlike the global blitz we saw with the Galaxy S III, the Chat is launching in Spain this month and will exclude some large swaths of the Earth when it goes worldwide later on, leaving out Africa, North America and Russia.
Samsung ChatON messaging app comes to Windows Phone, cross-platform party planned
Continuing to (perhaps unintentionally) kick SMS messaging to the curb, Samsung's taken another, admittedly smaller, chunk of the smartphone crowd, announcing its ChatON messaging app for Windows Phone. It has already claimed a place on Android, Bada, iOS, and BlackBerry devices, plus its own web-based client. Now the app's finally ready to embrace those long-suffering Samsung-made Windows Phones -- it's apparently available to download from the phone-based marketplace. Unfortunately, the link has gone inert on the web store, so you'll have to hit up the dedicated Samsung zone on your phone to grab the messaging service. Let's hope Victoria Justice is still looking to party.
Texting: the truth serum of the 21st century
The University of Michigan and The New School for Social Research has found that if you want someone to tell you the truth, you should text them. Dispensing with the lie detector for job interviewees, academics found that people gave more honest and detailed answers via SMS than over the phone. The team believes it's due to the lack of time pressure and not having to produce a pleasing answer for your interrogator. If the findings continue to provide similar results, it looks like Steve Wilkos could be replaced with a smartphone.
Samsung ChatON now available as web-based messaging client
ChatON is Samsung's mobile messaging platform available for Bada, Android, BlackBerry and, yes, iOS phones. Now it's pulled the sheets from the web-based version of the service that allows you to message your frenemies from the comfort of your desktop. As well as short messages, you'll get group chat, multimedia sending, profile pages and buddy charts to let you know who your BFFs are. All of your communiqués and shared multimedia are stored in the "Trunk," a repository for those office-party pictures you wish you'd never sent. You'll also be able to link your desktop and phone accounts so that you're accessible at whatever device you're sat at. Head on down to our source link to go straight to sign up.
Samsung announces three Wave handsets, dripping in Bada 2.0 and ChatON
It's shaping up to a be a busy IFA for Samsung. Barely 24 hours after announcing its new ChatON messaging client, the manufacturer is now gearing up to release a troika of new Bada 2.0-powered Wave handsets -- the Wave 3, Wave M and Wave Y -- set to make their debut this week in Berlin. Leading the pack is the Wave 3, which leaked earlier this week. Powered by a 1.4GHz processor, this little guy boasts a 4-inch WVGA Super AMOLED display, 3GB of memory (along with a 32GB microSD slot) and a five megapixel, auto-focus-enabled shooter. The Wave M, meanwhile, packs slightly less juice, with a 832MHz processor, a 3.65-inch WVGA screen and 150MB of onboard storage (with a 2GB inbox and 32GB microSD slot). Rounding out the collection is the Wave Y, with its 3.2-inch HVGA display, 832MHz engine and two megapixel camera. All three feature your usual smattering of WiFi / Bluetooth 3.0 capabilities and will ship with ChatON and Samsung's Social Hub baked into their DNA. No word yet on pricing or availability, but you can find out more in the full press release, after the break.
Samsung getting in the mobile messaging business with ChatOn
Samsung today announced they are entering mobile messaging market. Like Facebook Messages, which hopes to kill off text messaging for good, Samsung's ChatOn is a cross-platform messaging service for Android, iOS, BlackBerry, and Samsung's own Bada OS that offers users the ability to send text, pictures, and video across devices. With the release of iOS 5, Apple will unveil the similar iMessages, a mobile messaging system that allows users to text message other iOS devices for free. While I love that traditional text messaging is being hunted down and prepared for slaughter we are going to have a huge problem on our hands as more and more tech companies join in the mobile messaging game. That problem is called fragmentation. iMessages is great because it lets you text anyone with an iOS device -- even an iPod touch -- for free. But iMessages only works for iOS devices. Facebook Messenger is great because it's cross platform and 750 million people use Facebook, but I don't want to have to add everyone at my work as a Facebook friend just so I can text them. Samsung's ChatOn seems like as reasonable go-between, but again, it's yet another service that everyone is going to have to sign up for to make it viable. While we all have grown tired of traditional text messaging because the phone companies wildly overcharge people for text packages, at least the system works. Can you imagine what's going to happen as more tech companies join the mobile messaging band wagon? Texting becomes too complicated. Where before it could be done by anyone to anyone on any phone, now you need to double check with people what service they use, download the appropriate apps, and then find out if that person uses a username, phone number, or email address as their mobile messaging handle. It seems everyone wants to be your messaging service. But no one wants to be interoperable. And until that happens, traditional text messaging is going nowhere and will continue to be a colossal rip-off. But I would rather use a system that over-charges than have to keep five different apps on my phone just to text everyone I know. Update: As a few readers rightly pointed out iMessages do in fact work as a "layer" on top of regular text messaging. However, iMessage is not a replacement for universal texting services as free iMessages and the Messages app are only available on iOS.