Messaging apps’ bold new plan: Cut deals to be preloaded onto phones

[Wireless News]

A few weeks ago, Nokia launched a WhatsApp phone that featured a special button that gives direct access to the messaging app. Now Path has cut a deal with Sprint to become a preloaded app in selected Samsung and HTC phones. The messaging app rivalry between half a dozen of major contenders is heating up as WhatsApp, Path, LINE, Tango, KakaoTalk, Viber and Kik vie for attention. Until now, major carriers have resisted supporting messaging apps too much, afraid of undermining their SMS volumes. In an interview with Tango earlier this week, the company told us that it has now hit 120 million registered users and the text-messaging feature is growing 3 to 4 times faster than the mobile video

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