Voice-focused messaging app Voxer has added an end-to-end encrypted \u2018private chats\u2019 feature on its Android and iOS apps \u2014 powered by Open Whisper Systems\u2019 Signal Protocol. So all content shared within a private chat, including live voice, text, videos, images, GIFs, and document sharing, is fully e2e encrypted.
It\u2019s the latest messaging app to make use of the Signal Protocol, which is also used by the likes of WhatsApp and Wire to secure users\u2019 content from the risks associated with the service provider having internal access to users\u2019 comms \u2014 albeit those apps use e2e everywhere, not just within a single \u2018private chats\u2019 silo.
e2e encryption means data is encrypted locally and users\u2019 hold the encryption keys, meaning providers cannot be compelled to decrypt and hand over their communications.
Why isn\u2019t Voxer applying e2e encryption across all comms content? CEO Irv Remedios says it\u2019s trying to balance convenience and (robust) security.
\u201cMany businesses and consumers rely on message history using multiple devices \u2014 being able to find older messages even after logging out\/in on mobile and desktop. End-to-end encryption would change that. We wanted to provide a solution for our users that wanted end-to-end encryption and we\u2019ll build on this,\u201d he tells TechCrunch.
The opt-in private chats feature must be initially on a per chats basis, and is currently only available for one-on-one chats \u2014 although Voxer is aiming to launch e2e encrypted group chats in Q1.
The company notes that content sent within a private chat cannot be shared, forwarded, or synced with other devices. Once the user logs out of their Voxer account all private chat content is erased.
Despite being a 10-year veteran of the mobile messaging space, Voxer does not break out active users, saying only that it\u2019s in the \u201cmillions\u201d at this point. And while the app is currently a free download, the company\u2019s monetization efforts are focused on mobile workforce users who might not have time to type texts but do still need to leave and receive messages rapidly \u2014 such as people working for on-demand delivery companies, service technicians, hotels\/hospitality employees and educators.
It says its best market is the US, followed by the UK, Canada, Australia, Taiwan and Japan.
Voxer\u2019s differentiating voice messaging feature is called \u2018Live-messaging\u2019 which enables users to stream media live but also store it simultaneously \u2014 allowing users to listen to an audio message as it\u2019s coming in while also having it saved for referring back to later.
According to Remedios a majority (~ 60 per cent) of the messages sent via the app are voice, although he notes this can be higher still (\u201ctowards 80 per cent\u201d) for business users. \u201cMost of our conversations are quick,\u201d he adds. \u201cHalf of all voice messages are 10 seconds or less\u2026 Responses to messages are also quick. The median reply time for a message is 20 seconds and two thirds of all messages are replied to within 1 minute.\u201d<\/p>\n