Real-time messaging

Without doubt, people like instant messaging. Messengers with media sharing, multiple group chats, video and voice calls, and even voice and video messages are a good replacement for inconvenient SMS messaging. This can be backed up by the fact that instant messaging giants like Viber, LINE, Telegram, and Slack have skyrocketed within the last years. According to Statista, the number of messaging app users was around 1.82 billion in 2017. This number is predicted to reach 2.48 billion by 2021.


Notifications

Push notifications have become a necessary feature for many modern web and mobile applications since they inform users about important events, pull them back to a service, and encourage them to use it more.

A recent study by Localytics shows that 21% of users abandon an app after one use. Thanks to push notifications, you can get users to return to your application by reminding them about its existence with relevant information that may pique their curiosity. For instance, by informing users about recent events and news, such as that their friend John Smith has just posted on Facebook, your social app can encourage users to open it.

Real-time feeds

An in-app feed that updates immediately after new content is published is a must for all social networking apps. On Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and Twitter, users see new content and comments without having to update the feed. A real-time feed makes your app sticky, since users get the latest and most relevant information immediately.

Stories, which first appeared in Snapchat and then were implemented in Instagram, have become the most engaging form of user-generated content.

Live data streaming

Live streaming is now widely used in many business spheres, from social networks to real estate to logistics, since it allows an app to simultaneously create and deliver data to end users, enabling deeper user interactions.

Livestream is considered the pioneer of video streaming. Created in 2007, this service allows creators to stream video content and allows viewers to play that content via a computer or phone. When Periscope entered the market, video streaming went viral. Later, this feature was adopted by social networks like Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube. The famous gaming platform Twitch has also been built around live video streaming, allowing users to stream games and get paid for it.

Learn how to implement those real-time features in our blog.