Amazon May Unveil Its Own Messaging App (engadget.com)

The messaging app field is as hot as ever with Apple, Facebook and Google (among others) slugging it out... and Amazon appears to want in on the action. From a report: AFTVnews claims to have customer survey info revealing that Amazon is working on Anytime, a messaging app for Android, iOS and the desktop that promises a few twists on the usual formula. It has mainstays like message encryption, video, voice and (of course) stickers, but it reportedly has a few hooks that would make it easy to sign up and participate in group chats. You would only need a name to reach out to someone, for one thing -- no WhatsApp-style dependence on phone numbers here. You only have to use Twitter-style @ mentions to bring people into conversations or share photos, and you can color-code chats to identify the most important ones. Naturally, there are app-like functions (such as group music listening and food ordering) and promises of chatting with businesses for shopping or customer service.

Comments

just what we need, another messaging app

[Anonymous Coward]

just what we need, another messaging app

Re:just what we need, another messaging app

[interkin3tic]

Seriously, must be a case of silicon valley mistaking itself for everyone else."Everyone is totally going to download the latest app because it's the hot new thing!"

I switched to a pay as you go plan for texts, thought "No problem, I'm on wifi all the time, I'll just switch to whatsapp." Realized no one I know actually uses whatsapp. Tried to get the maybe 5 people I regularly communicate with to download and set it up. "It's cheaper and you can use it from your computer."

All it did was make me realize my closest friends and family like not downloading a new app more than they like talking with me :-(

Re:just what we need, another messaging app

[Anonymous Coward]

There is already a universal messaging app built into every phone called SMS/MMS. This BS of more and more isolated messaging apps needs to stop. I just recently ridded my phone of all messaging apps other than SMS/MMS and google hangouts for those i keep in touch with overseas where SMS/MMS can be expensive.

If anyone I know tries to get me on the latest messaging app fad i just flat out tell them send me a txt.

And in a year ...

[John Jorsett]

will we be hearing that Amazon is going to be selling our names and chat contents to third parties for advertising purposes?

Another messaging app...

[GuB-42]

Obligatory XKCD : https://xkcd.com/1810/

Re:Let's hope it's not the no-Linux AppData bomb

[stealth_finger]

If there's no Linux version

Of course there will no no linux version. Not nearly enough people to advertise to and the ones that there are will say 'fuck this shit'

Re:Prevention is the cure!

[stealth_finger]

Perhaps something similar can be done to you. Considering 17% of posters are AC and are responsible for 90% of shitposts this is clearly a matter of public concern.

Re:Another App to ignore

[stealth_finger]

If someone wants to use a messaging app, I'm sure by now they've decided on one they like. Unless this is linked into the reviews or questions on Amazon store I'm not sure the point.

If it IS linked into the Amazon store, I'm never asking/answering a question again and I'm not reviewing anything again.

I'd be willing to put money on them doing exactly that. It'll recognise products and link to them for easy shopping, of course they'll just do it on the sly at first until it's going then they'll ramp it up in an update and call it a feature.

Re:So...

[Oswald McWeany]

In chronological order of when I started using it, I now need to use, at least occasionally,

...long list...

And....as soon as some idiot I know starts using it as their preferred form of communcation, drumroll please.....Amazon Messaging!

I'm honestly fine with Email, SMS/iMessage and Voice Calls. Because those systems are non-proprietary and basically universal.

Just because someone you know wants to communicate using some proprietary messaging system doesn't mean you have to sign up for it. You can say "I don't use that. Email me instead".

I'm not on any funky messaging system, just regular SMS. I'm not on Google or Facebook. People know if they want to reach me to text me or call me. Heck, even e-mail me. I don't do the whole sign up for flavor of the day crap.

FIX SLASHDOT YOU FUCKING IDIOTS

[DontBeAMoran]

We are still getting fucking iframe banners with a static position at the top that covers 33% of our display.

Slashdot is fucking broke, you annoy us with shit like this and you wonder why you are losing readers. Fucking imbeciles.

Facetwit

[Zorro]

Anything that takes down Facebook and Twitter is welcome.

Please don't

[slashdice]

Amazon's consumer facing software is awful. I assume they outsource it to the cheapest Indian body shop they can find.

Re:no WhatsApp-style dependence on phone numbers h

[fred6666]

It's being used with limited functionality on these devices.
Apple wants you to have an iPhone, and your phone number is your main identifier on iMessage, the one people are supposed to use when contacting you, even if the message also gets delivered to your Mac.

Anyways, even without that huge flaw, iMessage still shouldn't be used as it's single-vendor. Who wants a single-vendor messaging protocol? Nobody only has friends with Apple devices.