Blackberry users have Blackberry Messenger (BBM), and lately iOS users have gotten their hands on iMessage, Apple’s answer to BBM, and perhaps not wanting to be left out in the wake and hype of iOS 5, Samsung has finally released the ChatON, which is the handset manufacturer’s Android answer to BBM and iMessage.
The messaging app was introduced quite a while back, but for those interested in getting their hands on it, it has finally been made available on the Android Market and Samsung’s own app store. However unlike its competition, BBM and iMessage, ChatON is not limited purely to Android handsets, it will work cross platform and users will eventually be able to send messages to their friends on iOS and Blackberry devices as well.
At the moment it is limited to just Android handsets and Samsung’s Bada series of phones and will be compatible with Android devices running on Froyo 2.2 and above. No word on if it will be compatible with the upcoming Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0 build of Android. Just like BBM and iMessage, ChatON will be free (data charges not withstanding) and will be bundled with future Samsung Android handsets, although for now non-Samsung users can grab it off the Android Market.
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