article_snippet: The app allows people to send instant messages and photographs via the internet rather without incurring charges from the internet network provider.
article_snippet: Messaging apps have exploded in popularity over the last few years thanks to the growth of smartphones and 3G and 4G allowing fast internet connection.
article_snippet: Research company Ovum found that the decline in the use of traditional text messages in favour of messaging apps was estimated to cost mobile network providers $54billion by 2016.
highlights_snippet: It is the first time an instant-messaging app has overtaken traditional SMS .
  