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Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com and Tumblr, has broadened its portfolio through a $50 million acquisition of Texts.com, an all-in-one messaging application. Texts.com consolidates a variety of messaging platforms, including iMessage, Slack, WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, Messenger, LinkedIn, Signal, Discord, and X into a single dashboard, facilitating seamless communication across different channels.
Key Features and Benefits of Texts.com
- End-to-End Encryption: Unlike other similar applications, Texts.com ensures the security of chats through end-to-end encryption.
- Scheduled Messages: Users can schedule messages to be sent at a time convenient for the recipient.
- Mark as Unread: Messages can be marked as unread even on services that do not support this feature.
- Chat Summaries: The app provides summaries for long group chats, helping users catch up on missed conversations.
Automattic’s Strategic Move
Automattic aims to make a mark in the messaging domain, a “fourth market integral to the modern web experience,” complementing its existing offerings in online publishing (WordPress), e-commerce (WooCommerce), blogging (Tumblr), and a suite of advertising tools. Automattic has also expanded into journaling (Day One), podcasting (Pocket Casts), and decentralized social networking (ActivityPub plug-in for WordPress).
Kishan Bagaria, founder of Texts.com, will lead Automattic's foray into messaging as the new head of messaging, along with his team.
Insights from Matt Mullenweg
Automattic owner Matt Mullenweg shared his personal frustrations with managing multiple messaging apps, a common issue for many users, and expressed his desire to consolidate communications into a single platform. He highlighted the current regulatory environment, particularly in the EU, as a favorable condition for Texts.com to thrive against tech giants, citing its user-centric approach and robust encryption.
Availability and Pricing
Texts.com is offered at $15 per month for general users and $30 per month for businesses. The application is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux, with iOS and Android versions in development. Although iMessage is supported only on Mac, and SMS is available only via iMessage, the app provides a wide range of messaging options, including WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Messenger, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, IRC, Slack, and Discord DMs.
Conclusion
Automattic’s acquisition of Texts.com represents a strategic expansion into the messaging sector, aiming to provide a unified communication platform in a fragmented digital landscape. With a focus on encryption, user convenience, and comprehensive integration, Texts.com is poised to offer a unique solution for users juggling multiple messaging apps.
