'Terrifying' new app Beam Messenger lets users see text messages as they're being typed

[Thomas the Tank Engine]

I'm surprised this wasn't posted, of course I just found out about it while searching Google for a text messaging app I used to use.

 

 

If you're the kind of person who likes to edit text messages (or regularly scrolls back to delete any part of what you've said before pressing "send,") Beam Messenger is not for you.

Released Thursday by Toronto's Propulsion Lab, Beam is an Android messaging app that purports to help users "experience the nuances of having a conversation in real time" and "engage with people in a truly unique way, for free!"

Unlike traditional texting apps, Beam shows both participants in a conversation what the other party is writing AS THEY WRITE IT. Every character, every deleted character, every single pause, in real time. Right there in the palm of your hand.

"Beam Messenger is a first of its kind True Real Time communications app," reads the company's website. "It allows for instant typing and transmission of text. Erase messages in real time or interrupt your friend to say 'you've heard the story before'!"

 

 

Promising its users "the closest you will get to having a verbal conversation in a messaging app," Beam's developers point out that the app can be quite useful for those with privacy concerns.

According to its Google Play download page, nothing is ever truly stored within Beam Messenger. The dymanic nature of real time conversations within the app mean that no single message is ever "delivered" to a person's phone ? just organized on their screen.

For this reason, says Beam, "the messages are inherently secure."

 

READ THE REST AT: cbcnews | Community

[Hum]

Oh noz !  They will see how illiterate I am ! :huh:

[techbeck]

NTY....I have accidentally started typing a text about someone to that person when meaning to text someone else.  Apps like this just cause problems.  And ICQ and other messengers years ago used to do this.

[spacer]

So how does this work? It's sending a new SMS text for every key stroke? That seems wildly inefficient...and dangerous for those on a cell phone plan without unlimited testing.

[theyarecomingforyou]

The real question is, why? All you're going to see is a whole lot of stupid autocorrect words appear and quickly removed. It doesn't add anything to the experience.

[xendrome]

So how does this work? It's sending a new SMS text for every key stroke? That seems wildly inefficient...and dangerous for those on a cell phone plan without unlimited testing.

 

It's obviously not SMS, it's just a propritary app that uses data. like an instant messenger.

[spacer]

It's obviously not SMS, it's just a propritary app that uses data. like an instant messenger.

Well, that's why I asked the question. The article doesn't say definitely one way or the other. It's also why I said it's dangerous. If it does use SMS and doesn't properly warn users, it could rack up quite the bill. That being said, I'd be extremely surprised if it DID use SMS.

[+Warwagon MVC]

ah the old days of ICQ

[Dick Montage]

Why is this, a thread of 2014, in the recent threads?

[Nick H. Supervisor]

3 minutes ago, Human.Online said:

Why is this, a thread of 2014, in the recent threads?

Because I was quick enough to catch the spam, but not good enough to pre-empt it.

 

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