Apple accused of making it harder to switch phones, hampering innovation, and imposing costs on developers
News messaging
Telegram Reaches 900m Users, Nears Profitability
Encrypted messaging app Telegram reaches 900 million users, nears profitability as secretive company considers IPO
SEC Probe ‘Collects Thousands Of Wall Street App Messages’
SEC reportedly reviewing thousands of private messages from apps such as WhatsApp and Signal in Wall Street record-keeping probe
Government Abandons Plan To Scan Encrypted Messages
Online Safety Bill climbdown? After tech platforms threaten to quit UK, government abandons plan to scan encrypted messages
Apple Objects To Spy Clause In UK Online Safety Bill
Apple adds to criticism of spy powers in Online Safety Bill that could force messaging firms to scan encrypted messages
WhatsApp Lets Users Edit Sent Messages – For 15 Minutes
Meta encrypted messaging platform WhatsApp introduces editing of sent messages, but only for 15 minutes after original post
WhatsApp Adds ‘Chat Lock’ To Secure ‘Intimate’ Messages
Extra layer of security has been added for WhatsApp messages, with ability to lock and hide sensitive conversations
Twitter To Launch Encrypted Direct Messaging
Elon Musk reveals Twitter is to launch encrypted direct messages on Wednesday, and voice and video chat are to follow
WhatsApp, Other Messaging Firms Urge Online Safety Bill ‘Rethink’
WhatsApp, six other encrypted messaging firms call for 'urgent rethink' of Online Safety Bill that they say woud weaken user security
WhatsApp To Bypass Regime Internet Shutdowns
Iran, China blow? Internet shutdowns by authoritarian regimes will not prevent WhatsApp users from messaging, Meta confirms
WhatsApp To Stop Working On Older Mobile Phones
Millions of users of older iPhones and Android handsets are to lose access to WhatsApp, after support ends 31 December
WhatsApp Reactions Expanded To Allow Full Use Of Every Emoji
New update for WhatsApp users will allow the use of any emoji as a reaction, greatly expanding choice for user chats
Google To Shut Down Hangouts Later This Year
Another app closure. Google Hangouts will be shut down in November this year, as conversations are moved onto Google Chat
WhatsApp Gains Approval To Double Indian Payment Service – Report
Regulatory approval for Meta's WhatsApp, to more than double the number of users of its payments service in India to 100 million
Signal Dismisses Hack Rumour As ‘Misinformation Campaign’
Messaging app Signal denies rumours its platform was hacked, saying it is part of a “co-ordinated misinformation campaign”
WeChat Account Of Australian Prime Minister Removed
China strikes back? Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison's WeChat account has vanished, with some alleging Chinese interference
Germany May Close Down Telegram, Minister Warns
Shutting down popular messaging service Telegram in Germany cannot be ruled out, Interior Minister warns, amid battle over pandemic restrictions
WhatsApp Tests Message Sending Without Smartphone
Look mum, no smartphone. For the first time WhatsApp to test a feature to allow users to send messages without a smartphone
Signal Hacks Cellebrite Phone Hacking Kit
Sweet revenge? Signal said it has hacked the phone hacking kit from Cellebrite, used by law enforcement to access mobile devices
Is Microsoft About To Buy Discord?
Reports surface that Microsoft is considering a possible $10 billion purchase of messaging and communication service Discord
WhatsApp Adds Voice And Video Calling To Desktop App
Bigger screen time. Facebook's WhatsApp messaging service has finally added voice and video calling capabilities to its desktop version
WhatsApp To Limit Messaging, Unless Users Agree New Terms
Users who don't agree to WhatsApp's updated terms will be blocked from messaging, and their account could be eventually deleted
Signal Ramps Up Hiring After Surge – Report
Signal reportedly hiring more staff to cope with surge, as it and Telegram benefit from WhatsApp data policy update controversy
Signal Installations Surge Amid WhatsApp Data Concerns
Research shows installations of Signal messaging app approaching one million a day, amid concern over WhatsApp data policy update
Slack Starts 2021 With Outage
Rough start to the year for communication platform Slack, which is in the process of being acquired by CRM giant Salesforce
WhatsApp To Bring Voice, Video Calls To Web Version
Watch out Zoom! WhatsApp is reportedly deliver voice and video calling to WhatsApp Web, its desktop based offering