Kik vs iMessage

June 04, 2023 | Author: Adam Levine
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Kik
chat on your terms. Looking for a new and engaging way to interact with your audience? Have amazing content or a cool experience you'd love to get discovered? Kik offers brands and content providers unique ways to talk with their fans, and find new followers too!
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iMessage
iMessage lets you send messages back and forth with anyone on iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, or a Mac. If you’re a texter, you’ll love Messages on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Now they all come with iMessage, a service that’s an even better kind of texting. Because it’s free for you and anyone texting over Wi-Fi using an iOS device or Mac with iMessage.
Kik and iMessage are two messaging platforms with distinct features and target audiences. Kik is a standalone messaging app that focuses on anonymity and simplicity. Users can chat with others using only a username and engage in group conversations, share multimedia content, and explore various bots for additional functionality. Kik is popular among younger users who value privacy and a casual chatting experience. On the other hand, iMessage is Apple's built-in messaging service exclusive to iOS devices. It offers a seamless integration with the device's messaging system and allows users to send text messages, photos, videos, and other multimedia content to fellow Apple users. iMessage supports features like end-to-end encryption, read receipts, and the ability to send messages from multiple Apple devices.

See also: Top 10 Business Messaging platforms
Kik vs iMessage in our news:

2020. Apple’s iMessage adds Slack-like mentions, pins, threads and more



Apple has recently announced that the upcoming version of iMessage will include support for various popular features commonly found in rival messaging applications such as Slack and Facebook's Messenger, among others. These enhancements encompass the addition of inline replies, pins, and mentions, along with updated customization options for group chats, expanded Memoji functionality, improved search capabilities, and more. The introduction of inline replies allows iMessage users participating in a group chat to respond to specific messages using threaded conversations, a feature commonly found in other leading messaging apps like Slack. Users have the flexibility to view the replies within the main conversation or as separate threads, depending on their preference.


2018. Apple Business Chat goes global



Earlier this year, Apple launched its iMessage-based communication platform called Apple Business Chat in the United States. Now, the service is expanding globally and is available in various countries including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Singapore, Japan, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Unlike typical bot-based messaging systems, Apple Business Chat offers a more convenient experience by allowing customers to engage with real people. Moreover, it provides users with greater control over the amount of information they choose to share with businesses. To ensure the functionality of Business Chat, Apple collaborates with customer service platforms such as LivePerson, Salesforce, Nuance, Genesys, InTheChat, and Zendesk. This partnership enhances the capabilities of the platform and enables seamless customer interactions.


2018. iMessage adds Google Search



Google Search is now accessible within iMessage. In an effort to enhance the integration of Google's search engine on iOS devices, the company has introduced an iMessage extension for its Search app on iOS. This extension enables iPhone and iPad users to perform web searches and seamlessly share the search results within their iMessage conversations. With the iMessage extension from Google, users can enter a query in the search box or choose from various search categories such as Weather, Food, Nearby (venues/businesses), Trending (news), or Videos. Each search result includes a "Share" button, which, upon selection, adds the corresponding item as a card directly into the ongoing iMessage conversation. When the recipient interacts with the card, they will be directed to the respective Google search result.


2017. Apple enters customer service arena with iOS Business Chat



Apple has introduced iOS Business Chat as a customer service solution within its Messages application. This feature allows businesses to engage with their customers through live chat within the iMessage ecosystem. With iOS Business Chat, businesses can connect with the vast user base of over 1 billion active Apple iOS device users across various Apple platforms, including Apple Maps, Siri, Search, and their own websites and apps. This chat-based customer service channel offers a range of functionalities, such as facilitating payments through Apple Pay and integrating with calendars for scheduling follow-up support sessions. Customers can seamlessly interact with businesses within the iOS messaging platform, enabling them to engage in chat conversations, make payments, share photos of damaged products, exchange videos, and even book flights while selecting their preferred seats.


2015. Messenger Kik adds QR codes to connect users and brands


Mobile messenger Kik has taken inspiration from WeChat by introducing QR codes to enable various interactions directly within the app. These interactions range from purchasing a soda to printing a photo. While Kik aims to achieve extensive engagement in the long run, their initial implementation of 'Kik Codes' is relatively basic. By scanning these codes, users can connect with each other, add new participants to a group chat, or establish a connection with a brand on the platform, which is particularly intriguing. Kik had previously introduced promoted chats to enable brands like Burger King to engage with users officially. The company revealed that more than 16 million users have interacted with branded bots, resulting in over half a billion messages exchanged. Kik Codes align well with this concept, as they facilitate connections that would otherwise be challenging to establish. For instance, a code offering a free pizza or a monetary incentive can entice users to scan and engage, enhancing the overall experience.


2015. Messenger Kik raised $50M



The Canadian company behind the messaging app Kik has recently secured $50 million in funding from Tencent, the renowned creator of WeChat. Kik has consistently demonstrated its commitment to innovation in an industry that witnesses rapid turnovers. Moreover, Kik has successfully generated revenue. As of now, Kik holds the 30th position among the top free apps on the App Store and ranks 7th in the social networking category, both within the United States. By collaborating with Tencent, Kik aims to compete with messaging giants such as Facebook by continuously exploring novel ideas and experimenting until they discover a breakthrough—something at which Tencent has excelled.


2015. Messenger Kik unveiled in-chat web browser



Kik has taken a step further in integrating the web into its chat platform by upgrading its in-app sidebar browser into a fully functional browser for its messaging app. This upgrade allows Kik users to now access a complete browser within their conversations with colleagues. Previously, the browser was limited as it was loaded from the sidebar within the chat window. This enhancement offers a more immersive experience, enabling Kik's 200 million registered users to browse the web while engaging in conversations. Additionally, it provides them with the convenience of easily sharing web pages and services during chats. This is particularly significant as Kik's content platform is based on HTML. The company has plans to introduce a payments service this year and subsequently incorporate commerce and other services within its app, all built on HTML and the browser experience.


2015. iMessage and FaceTime get two-factor authentication



Apple has implemented enhanced security measures for its communication tools, FaceTime and iMessage. These services now offer the option of two-factor authentication, providing an additional layer of protection for users. With this feature enabled, even if someone obtains a user's Apple ID email and password and attempts to activate iMessage or FaceTime on a new device, they will still require a PIN from a trusted device to gain access to these services. Users who have already enabled two-factor authentication for iCloud will automatically have it enabled for FaceTime and iMessage as well. This added security measure strengthens the safeguarding of potentially sensitive images within iMessage history and mitigates the risk of impersonation through online communication channels.


2006. Yahoo! MSN adds Mac IM interoperability

On Wednesday, Microsoft launched Messenger 6.0 for Mac, enabling Apple users to connect with Yahoo Messenger users through their instant messaging software. This feature was previously available for PC users in July but was absent for Mac users until now. The updated software also grants Microsoft IM users on Mac the ability to create personalized emoticons and share their currently playing iTunes song with their buddies. The software can be downloaded for free from Microsoft's Mac website. Additionally, it is worth noting that the interoperability features of Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo Messenger for PC, previously in beta, have been officially released to the public on the same day.

Author: Adam Levine
Adam is an expert in project management, collaboration and productivity technologies, team management, and motivation. With an extensive background working at prestigious companies such as Microsoft and Accenture, Adam's in-depth knowledge and experience in the field make him a sought-after professional. Currently, he has ventured into entrepreneurship, owning a thriving consulting and training agency where he imparts invaluable insights and practical strategies to individuals and organizations, empowering them to achieve their goals and maximize their potential. You can contact Adam via email adam@liventerprise.com