Mohammad Izzat Al Taani, telecommunications veteran and advisor, reflects on the evolution of instant messaging platforms. Tracing the journey from the Internet’s early days to the current era dominated by social media he explores the pivotal role of reliable communication, enhanced audio and video quality. Highlighting the innovative strides made by platforms like Imo, the article unveils the technological advancements propelling instant messaging towards a new era of authentic and powerful communication.
Those of us who lived through the dawn of the Internet might recall the golden era of the instant messaging platforms. The ability to exchange real-time messages with friends, family and colleagues through the convenience of our, mostly desktop, computers back in the late ‘90s, free of the hefty cost of SMS, was rather refreshing and groundbreaking. A few years later, thanks to the wide availability of always-on DSL broadband connections, the number of instant messaging apps users skyrocketed.
Soon after, the increasing popularity of social media, together with the rapid adoption of smartphones and mobile Internet changed everything. Instant messaging platforms wanted to become social networks and social networks tried to establish their own messaging platforms, while users began to feel overwhelmed by the rising number of accounts they had to register. Maybe it’s time instant messaging apps went back to the basics, then?
It all comes down to reliable and superior quality communication
In the pursuit of more meaningful interactions with significantly fewer distractions, such as functions more suited to social networks, recent technological developments are guiding instant messaging platforms back to their roots: reliable and effective communication. While the term ‘messaging’ is still being used to describe these platforms, audio and video communication are equally important elements. The recent pandemic acted as a catalyst for their widespread adoption and users have grown to expect nothing less than exceptional experiences.
Audio quality, for instance, should be at least on par with a regular phone call, if not better. With zero delays and, ideally, automatically enhanced on a software level to eliminate background noise for every single user, regardless of device. According to research, 62% of calls on mainstream instant messaging applications contain unwanted noise.
Video interactions must also be capable of reproducing the sense of personal connection that defines face-to-face conversations. You see, when people want to communicate with family and loved ones who may live across continents, they need to see their faces, their expressions and their reactions and not a choppy, pixelated mess. Every smile, every laugh and every tear should be vividly captured. Doctors need to interact with their remote patients in high quality in order to reliably provide medical care. Distant students need to feel fully engaged and connected, as if they were right there in the classroom.
Yet, HD video calling is far from granted, which is surprising considering that the majority of smartphones, tablets and laptops come equipped with quite capable camera sensors. With today’s ultrafast 4G/5G mobile networks and broadband connections, shouldn’t HD video calling be the norm? Instant messaging platforms have a role to play here, but not all of them perform equally well. Even on the exact same hardware, different platforms often deliver entirely different results in terms of video calling quality; anyone can verify this on their own devices.
Thanks to the development of a sophisticated adaptive streaming mechanism, Imo, the popular instant messaging platform, became the first in the world to offer 2K HD video calling for free. To achieve the stunning 2K-resolution output, Imo’s team delved into the realms of AI and Machine Learning. They designed intelligent algorithms that could predict network fluctuations and adaptively adjust video parameters in real-time, ensuring consistent, crystal-clear video communication.
Moreover, Imo’s engineers worked extensively on device-specific optimisations. Collaborating closely with leading smartphone manufacturers, they fine-tuned the software to leverage the hardware capabilities of the latest devices, ensuring an optimal high-resolution video call experience. This experience is further enhanced with the implementation of innovative features, such as software lighting, which has the potential to significantly enhance video quality in dimly lit environments and a zero-noise feature that filters out unwanted noise.
The growing importance of security
In this ever-evolving digital era, safeguarding personal and confidential business data has emerged as an utmost priority for users. Leaders in the world of instant messaging recognise their responsibility to ensure users’ privacy, thus they are always on the cutting edge of security innovations. This way, users remain protected from potential threats and breaches, while trust is bolstered; both are crucial for communication excellence.
Two-step verification is among the most important security measures. This adds an additional layer of protection, making it harder for attackers to access sensitive data and reducing the risk of unauthorised access, particularly when users access their accounts from different devices. Besides the basic security features that the leading instant messaging apps share, platforms like Imo can fortify user data protection even more by establishing a robust link between user accounts and their SIM cards. Advanced instant messaging platforms also include device management features, which allow users to keep control over account access and usage, limiting it to trusted devices. Users also appreciate features like screenshot blocking, disappearing messages and the option to delete any discussion from a chat history for all parties involved.
From the early days of telephones to the advent of instant messaging platforms, we have witnessed a remarkable transformation in the way we connect with each other. Beyond being quick and convenient, communication must be fundamentally secure and of exceptional quality. In order to achieve this, instant messaging pioneers are already adopting technological innovations that add to, rather than take away from, their original purpose. Ultimately, this will enable more authentic and powerful communication experiences, bridging the gap between physical and digital interactions.
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