Signal Adds New Chat Features to Attract Audience

Signal latest version for both iOS (5.3.1) and Android (5.3.7) added a number of new features to the increasingly popular encrypted messaging app, according to The Verge report, on Friday. This addition includes mainstream features like chat wallpapers, animated stickers, and an “About” section in your profile. The iOS app now handles data more efficiently, too, bringing it closer to feature parity with the Android app.

Meanwhile, iPhone users will see a new setting to lower data usage during calls, an option to automatically pause attachment downloads during calls, and improved image compression among other enhancements. The “Signal” is a free, privacy-focused messaging and voice talk application that you can use on Apple and Android smartphones and via desktop.

On other hand, Signal is not the only encrypted messaging service that has tried to up its game to lure in some more users in recent weeks. Telegram has begun offering a service allowing users to migrate their chats over from other messaging services.

This all comes after WhatsApp announced that users of the app would have to share their data with Facebook. Naturally, this upset much of the userbase and forced WhatsApp to delay the decision. However, this did not happen in time for a big surge in the user number for the likes of Telegram.

Noteworthy, Messaging apps like Signal and Telegram have seen a surge in growth in recent weeks. Signal was helped by a recommendation from Tesla CEO Elon Musk, while both benefited from the backlash to Facebook’s confusing new privacy policy for WhatsApp.