With the evolution of technologies, it doesn’t seem big when we connect with our friends or family living in any other corner of the world through text, voice, or video call. Although technologies like smooth video calls and voice messages have changed the way we communicate, nothing can replace the satisfaction of text messages. Instant messaging app development have always been in demand and have impacted our lives significantly. One such highly popular instant messaging app is TextNow. This app has grown substantially over time by leveraging artificial intelligence technology. It offers high utility and satisfaction to the users and that’s why apps like TextNow are always in demand.
In this article, we will have a comprehensive exploration of different aspects of the TextNow app and how you can develop an app like it. We will understand its benefits, cost of instant messaging app development, features, and many other important considerations. So let’s begin with the basics.
What is the TextNow App?
Founded in 2009, the TextNow is a popular messaging and calling app. It is an AI-based texting app by which users can share media files, make calls, and send messages. Its founder envisions this app to transform communication, ensuring accessibility and affordability to every user. It comes with a plethora of features and provides unmatchable opportunities to effortlessly engage with their loved ones.
Currently, the app has a huge user base of more than 200 million users which showcases its popularity. Furthermore, TextNow also offers premium features that users can buy through in-app purchases. Some of these features are voicemail transcription, international calling, and removal of ads.
Why invest in Texting App Development like TextNow?
After understanding the concept of the app TextNow, you must be wondering if is it worthwhile to invest in this idea or what benefits it offers. Thus, let’s explore its advantages for business owners and entrepreneurs who are considering building AI texting apps.
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 during instant messaging app development:
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. Contact Management:
In the texting app, the synchronization of contact is a must. The contact list tool of the app will allow users to manage, add, or remove contacts. It will be highly valuable for texting apps like TextNow as it allows users to track their conversations. Users have the flexibility to search for contacts by name or phone number.
c. Messaging:
This is the app’s main feature, which allows users to send messages and talk with one another. There will be a chat interface on the app which will let users send and receive texts and other media items including photos and videos. The users should also be able to send voice messages. There must be a quick transmission of each content type with no interruption.
d. Notification Alerts:
There can’t be quick messaging if the users do not get immediate notifications for new messages. Thus, notification alerts are required if there is any new message, group chat invitation, or something else. The users would be able to check from whom they have received the messages through push notifications as well.
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 during instant messaging app development:
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 instant messaging app development because it will help you find a distinctive market. You would be able to set apart yourself from the competitors.
You must gather as much data as possible about your rivals and the market, considering their specific products, costs, advertising methods, and client testimonials.
c. Hire a Mobile App Development Company:
After gathering the requirements, you will require a mobile app development company that could convert these requirements into a digital reality. You can hire mobile app developers with relevant experience and skills. While hiring app developers, you must check their previous work experience, reviews and ratings, client testimonials, and overall profile.
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:
A top-notch mobile app development company also provide design services in which the designers can create a prototype of the app. Wireframes are used to plan the app’s design and layout, including where text, buttons, and images will be put.
It would be helpful if you also considered the app’s marketing, visual design, and overall aesthetic at this stage. It’s important to create a design that complements your company’s logo, is aesthetically beautiful, and is straightforward to use.
e. Development:
When the designs are provided to the developers, they start putting lives into them. The frontend developers have to ensure that every element of the screen responds to the users’ actions and performs the desired action.
The responsibility of the backend developers is to build underlying features and functionalities of the app as per the scope of work. The company will employ the application’s framework and layout, which are typically constructed using coding languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It will be integrated with other tools and systems, such as online payment, shopping cart software, and customer relationship management (CRM) systems.
f. QA Testing:
No app can be developed without any bugs or issues. Thus, it is the responsibility of the QA engineers to ensure no problems or issues arise before publishing. In this stage, there is also entail finding and resolving any problems that emerge throughout the assessment.
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 the instant messaging app 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.
