Cross-App Chats: The Future of Communication

Communication is one of the most essential aspects of human life. We communicate with each other for various purposes, such as sharing information, expressing emotions, building relationships, and collaborating on projects. However, communication can also be challenging, especially when we use different platforms and devices to communicate with different people.

Imagine this scenario: You have a group of friends who use WhatsApp, another group who use Telegram, and a third group who use Signal. You also have some family members who use Facebook Messenger, some colleagues who use Slack, and some clients who use Skype. How do you manage all these different chats across all these different apps? How do you switch between them without losing track of the conversations? How do you ensure that you don’t miss any important messages or notifications?

This is where cross-App chats come in. Cross-App chats are a new way of communication that allows you to chat with anyone, regardless of the app they use. Cross-App chats enable you to send and receive messages across different platforms and devices, without having to install multiple apps or create multiple accounts. Cross-App chats also allow you to sync your chats across all your devices, so you can access them anytime, anywhere.

How do cross-App chats work?

Cross-App chats work by using a common protocol that enables interoperability between different apps. This protocol is called Matrix, and it is an open standard for secure, decentralized, real-time communication. Matrix is designed to be a universal layer for communication and collaboration on the web, allowing users to chat, call, share files, and more with anyone they want.

Matrix works by creating a global network of servers, called homeservers, that store and exchange messages and other data. Each user has an account on a homeserver of their choice, and can communicate with other users on any other homeserver. Each homeserver acts as a gateway to the Matrix network, and can connect to other services, such as email, SMS, or other chat apps, via bridges. Bridges are software components that translate messages between Matrix and other protocols, allowing cross-App chats to happen.

For example, if you use a Matrix-based app, such as Element, you can chat with someone who uses WhatsApp, as long as there is a bridge between Matrix and WhatsApp. The bridge will relay your messages to and from the WhatsApp server, and you will see them in your Element app. Similarly, you can chat with someone who uses Telegram, Signal, Facebook Messenger, Slack, Skype, or any other app that has a bridge with Matrix. You can also chat with someone who uses another Matrix-based app, such as FluffyChat, without needing a bridge, as you are both on the same network.

What are the benefits of cross-App chats?

Cross-App chats have many benefits for users, such as:

• Convenience: You don’t have to install multiple apps or create multiple accounts to chat with different people. You can use one app and one account to chat with anyone you want, across any platform or device.
• Privacy: You don’t have to share your personal information, such as your phone number or email address, with different apps or services. You can use a unique identifier, such as @username:matrix.org, to chat with anyone on Matrix, and keep your identity and data secure.
• Control: You don’t have to rely on centralized servers or services that can censor, monitor, or manipulate your communication. You can choose your own homeserver, or even host your own, and have full control over your data and communication. You can also encrypt your chats end-to-end, and verify the identity of your chat partners, to ensure that your communication is private and secure.
• Innovation: You don’t have to wait for app developers or service providers to add new features or functionality to your communication. You can use the latest and greatest features that Matrix offers, such as voice and video calls, stickers, reactions, bots, widgets, and more. You can also customize your communication experience by choosing from a variety of apps and clients that support Matrix, or even creating your own.

How can you start using cross-App chats?

To start using cross-App chats, you need to do two things:

• Choose a Matrix-based app: There are many apps and clients that support Matrix, and you can choose the one that suits your needs and preferences. Some of the popular ones are Element, FluffyChat, Nheko, SchildiChat, and Quaternion. You can find a list of Matrix-based apps here: https://matrix.org/clients/
• Create a Matrix account: Once you have chosen an app, you need to create an account on a homeserver of your choice. You can either use a public homeserver, such as matrix.org, or a private homeserver, such as your own or your organization’s. You can find a list of public homeservers here: https://www.hello-matrix.net/public_servers.php

Once you have done these two steps, you are ready to start using cross-App chats. You can invite anyone to chat with you by using their Matrix identifier, such as @username:matrix.org, or their bridge identifier, such as @username:whatsapp.bridge.matrix.org. You can also join existing chats, such as rooms, groups, or communities, by using their Matrix address, such as #roomname:matrix.org. You can find a list of public rooms here: https://matrix.to/#/+matrix:matrix.org

Cross-App chats are the future of communication, and you can be part of it. Start using Matrix today, and enjoy the benefits of cross-App chats.