Yahoo’s revamped messenger app reportedly ready

Yahoo is rumoured to be working on a revamped messenger app, and it seemed like the new app was finally ready.

The company released the latest version of the Messenger mobile app, which goes by the name ''Yahoo Livetext – Video Messenger'', in the Hong Kong iOS app store, a report by TechCrunch said.

The app, which went live earlier this month, tried to differentiate itself from competition by offering a unique form of video texting that combined traditional text messages with muted video.

According to Yahoo, the idea was to offer a more natural form of communication, where users could see how others reacted in real-time while in conversations.

Yahoo, declining to comment about the app, said,  ''We're always experimenting with new product experiences that delight our users. We have nothing further to share at this time.''

Yahoo passed up opportunities to grab a share in mobile messaging despite being one of the first companies to offer instant communication for desktop users.

The company's Instant Messenger app in the late 1990s and early 2000s, was among the popular tools for web users, along with MSN Messenger and ICQ.

However, with the emergence of social media, Yahoo ceded space to platforms such as Facebook.

According to Yahoo, Livetext was not an alternative to a smartphone's built-in mobile apps rather it was ''an entirely new way to stay in touch''.

The app also sought users how to solve the problem of expressing themselves by not relying on typing alone.

''The advent of smartphones led a shift towards convenience and speed. We have gone from communicating primarily with our voices to using our fingers to text on glass,'' said Yahoo.

''Our solution is to go back to the basics, by putting your words and your friend's real-time reactions at the centre of your interaction. We have removed audio from the equation, as it's rarely convenient in today's fast-paced world.''

The free app works either with a WiFi or cellular connection and one-on-one messaging, not group chats.

Video calling is not supported on the app unlike Skype, Viber or FaceTime. The app also offers user profiles which, included a Livetext ID, helping users to find friends based on the address book their phone.