Delta Chat - An Open Source Email based Instant Messenger

Android has a bunch of messaging apps such as whatsapp, telegram, snapchat, riot, with most of them requiring your phone number to sign up. But DeltaChat follows a different approach. It is an opensource app based on conventional email which means it has a wider reach than existing messaging apps in the world.

You just need other's email to chat. No signup required, Just login with your email address & password, invite your friend & start chatting. Since, the message log is stored in your mail server, You have full control over your data.

The user interface is sleek. Navigation is simple. We can share images, videos, voice messages, docs, files etc...

Features:

• Fast nessage delivery by using Push-IMAP
• Largest userbase - receivers not using Delta Chat can be reached as well
• Compatible with most existing email services
• Elegant and simple user interface
• Group Chat facility
• Distributed system: No central server.
• No Spam - only messages of known users are shown by default
• Reliable - safe for professional use
• Trustworthy - can even be used for business messages
• Secure: App can be locked with password
• Fully open source and standards based

The project's page also has a good article on the existing messenger apps scenario & how delta chat is trying to make a difference.

However, The messenger is currently in beta stage & has plans to implement end to end encryption & support for other platforms in future.

Project website: https://delta.chat

Source Code: https://github.com/r10s/messenger-android

My thoughts: It's worth using. You don't need to beg your friends to sign-up for yet another service, as everyone has an email address.