In today’s time, it is not a big task to connect with our friends through calls, text, or a video call. Wherever our loved ones are, we can seamlessly connect with them. In the last two decades, we have witnessed multiple revolutions in how we connect with other people. Initially, there were only phone calls and messages, but then instant messaging app development started, and chatting became a common thing. Then with the availability of fast internet, video calling became a new way of communication.
Although a plethora of technologies arose, nothing could replace the feel of text messages. That’s the reason why there has been a huge demand for instant messaging apps. This may be because people always feel more comfortable texting than they do with a call. One such popular instant messaging app is TextNow. It is built using advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and has grown substantially over time.
In this article, we will study and cover what is it required to develop a successful instant messaging app like TextNow. We will cover various aspects of its development, like benefits, development costs, essential features, and other crucial aspects. Let’s begin with the basics.
What is the TextNow App?
The TextNow app was founded in 2009 with a focus on providing messaging and calling services. It is built using AI-based technologies and allows users to share media files, calls, and text messages.
The motive of the app founder was to change how people communicate, and give communication inclusion to everyone. There are a lot of features in the app that give unmatchable opportunities for users to interact with their friends and family seamlessly.
Right now, there are nearly 200 million users on the TextNow app. Such a huge number showcases its popularity. In the TextNow app, you will get a lot of premium features. Generally, these features are paid for as the app follows a freemium revenue model. A few of these features are the transcription of voicemail, making international calls, ad removals, etc.
Why invest in Instant messaging App Development like TextNow?
Since you have understood the focus and motive of the TextNow app, you can now understand why it is fruitful to invest in this idea. Basically, what are the major benefits that such an app will offer to its users?
Let’s know about the major benefits of developing an app like TextNow:
a. Affordable Communication:
AI-based texting apps like TextNow can significantly reduce the communication costs of your business. Generally, businesses have to give contracts to costly phone plan providers but with texting apps, you can interact with your clients using Wi-Fi or Cellular data. This is a comparatively much less expensive approach
b. High Productivity:
Apps like TextNow can improve productivity in any organization that involves communication. The employees or customer care team wouldn’t be required to spend hours on the phone but can quickly reply to the client inquiries with texting app. This will minimize the waiting time and improve efficiency. Furthermore, an AI-based texting app like TextNow will let you communicate with multiple customers simultaneously.
c. Better Marketing Opportunities:
The text applications also open doors for various fresh and creative opportunities that businesses can leverage. The messaging app will allow businesses to connect with customers directly and increase the chances of engagement and conversions. The users would also receive promotional messages from the brands. Additionally, you can also develop a focused customer base that is consistently utilizing your texting app by offering users special discounts and promotions.
d. Personalized Customer Experience:
The texting apps will help you deliver a more tailored experience to the customers. They will receive specific ideas or solutions for their queries. The customers will feel more valued and appreciated.
e. Competitive Advantage:
You can gain a competitive advantage in your industry by developing a texting app like TextNow. You can also leverage the AI texting app to offer special deals, promotions, and other incentives to your clients. Thus, it will help you in getting differentiation from the competition.
Features to Consider to Create Texting Apps like TextNow:
The features decide the success of any app. For a text-messaging app, the features should serve the required purpose while also don’t overwhelm the users. Here are the important features that you can consider:
a. Registration:
On every app, the foremost step is user registration. There must be a smooth user registration process through mobile number and OTP/Password for account creation. After registration, the users could start using the application right away. This feature will ensure that the users’ data is safely stored and accessible.
b. Easy Management of Contacts:
If you want to send messages, then the easy selection of contact is a priority thing. Thus, the app should have access to the contacts saved on the user’s device. Furthermore, the app should allow users to manage, add, or remove contacts. It will also help the users to track conversations with important contacts.
c. Messaging:
There is no sense in a texting app if it doesn’t have a messaging feature. This feature will let the users send and receive messages, calls, or video calls. Just like TextNow, there will be a chat interface within the app to send & receive messages. The users would also be able to check old messages in the chat. You can also allow users to send and receive media files like photos or videos.
d. Notification Alerts:
Notification for new messages is an important and high-utility feature. If the users don’t get any alert for a new message, then the app is not considered an instant messaging app. The alerts will them them about a new incoming message and they can reply instantly.
e. Voice and Video Calls:
Today’s messaging apps are not just limited to texting but also allow users to initiate voice and video calls. This feature is highly beneficial for users who prefer direct conversations instead of becoming dependent on only text-based communication.
f. Emojis:
Emojis and stickers are no longer an additional feature but a necessary one. These playful characters enhance the user experience and make texting more entertaining and expressive.
g. Privacy:
In the Privacy settings section of the accounts section, users would be able to modify the profile image, status, privacy, and other settings. It also ensures that the customers have the ultimate right to the data and can choose who can access it.
h. Read Receipts:
The Read Receipts will allow users to find out if the recipient has read the communication. This technology helps in keeping track of the talks and avoid misunderstandings.
i. Backup & Restore:
Backup and Restore function will allow users to safely save their chats and data on the cloud drives. In case they switch their devices or accidentally uninstall the program, it would be easier for them to restore the old chats and conversations.
j. Auto Reply:
In case, the users are not available to respond to messages, they can set up an auto-reply message using the Auto Reply tool. This function is of high utility for people who want to inform their connections that they are not available at the moment
How to Develop an App like TextNow? Steps to Follow:
After knowing the major benefits and essential features, it is time that you know how to build an app like TextNow. Here are the major steps that you have to follow:
a. Planning and Strategy:
The process begins with careful planning and strategy. You have to identify the right target audience for your app, the platform for the app i.e. Android, iOS, or Web, functionalities and features, and several other aspects.
It is the stage at which you must review the essentials to ensure that the Textnow application meets the wants and expectations of the target market while also aligning with the overall corporate goals. During the planning and strategy phase, all aspects of TextNow’s construction and design, as well as marketing and graphic design, must be considered.
b. Do Market Research:
You have to analyze the existing market of messaging and texting apps and find out what works for TextNow and what does not. It is a crucial stage of development because it will help you find a distinctive market. You would be able to set apart yourself from the competitors.
c. Choice of mobile app development team:
You must hire a mobile app development company with similar prior experience and holds a good reputation in on-demand mobile app development. A top-notch mobile app development company will help you with this. You have to hire mobile app developers with prior expertise in similar requirements.
The mobile app developers must have relevant skills and experience. They should be able to comprehend your vision and provide you with an advanced messaging app like TextNow.
We always recommend outsourcing requirements as it exonerates you from delving into the technical nitty-gritty plus you can focus on your core business challenges.
d. Design and Wireframing:
The designers will create blueprints of the app, and showcase them to you. If you find them okay, then they will create wireframes of the app and finally the designs or screens.
After the design phase is complete, the designs will be handed over to the development team. This is the most crucial step in the development journey. The frontend developers will use HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript to create frontend screens of your app.
e. Development:
They will ensure that the app works seamlessly across all devices and screens. The backend development team on the other side would be responsible for building all the features and functionalities defined in the scope of work. They will build an admin panel, cloud infrastructure, security implementations, payment gateway, and other 3rd party integrations within your app.
f. Testing:
There are always some bugs and issues which are present after the development. It is the QAs’ responsibility to ensure no problems or issues arise before publishing. The QA engineers also check other aspects of the app like its performance and security.
g. Deployment:
When the QA engineers give the sign-off, the app is ready to go live on production. The developers will deploy on the cloud and further publish the application to the potential customers once it is ready to be launched.
Tech Stack Involved in Building an App Like TextNow:
To develop an extensive app like TextNow which is a cross-platform messaging app, the requirement is of not only experience but also the knowledge of the latest tech stack. Here is the tech stack involved in developing an app like TextNow:
| Programming Languages | Java, C++, Python |
| Operating Systems | Android, iOS, Windows |
| Communication Protocols | SIP, XMPP, TCP |
| 3rd Party Libraries and APIs | For Push Notifications, Chat functionalities, and file sharing |
How much does it cost to develop an app like TextNow?
After going through every aspect of how to develop an app like TextNow, you must be inquisitive to know its development cost. There are a plethora of factors that can influence its development cost. Some of the most common factors are the complexity of the app, the number of features it includes, the expertise and experience of the company, the location of the development team, and others.
Among all these factors, the location of the development plays a pivotal role in deciding the cost. The reason is if you hire mobile app developers in North America or Eastern Europe, they will charge you an hourly rate of $80-$120 per hour. On the other side, you can get the same development quality at much lower costs i.e. $25-$40 per hour in Southeast Asian countries like India.
As per our estimation, a standard messaging app like TextNow will cost $35,000 to $150,000. However, the cost can vary as per the features and other aspects.
Wrapping Up:
In this article, we have gone through all the major aspects of developing an app like TextNow. In the fast-paced world, everyone now prefers to use a single app to communicate and that’s why messaging apps are in huge demand.
We can help you develop a top-of-the-class AI-based messaging app with advanced features and functionalities. Our developers are highly experienced in the latest technologies and tools Let us know your requirements.
