Kik Messenger for Windows Phone updated with improvements

By Daniel Rubino
last updated

Last time Kik Messenger, the popular IM app that we use a lot around here, received an update was way back in October. That was the big Mango update which was very popular due to all the new features.

Just now we got the notice that version 2.1 is on the Marketplace though there's no changelog to be found, leaving us to guess what has been altered. The one thing we notice right away is it seems faster to us e.g. a "performance update" but we're human and prone to placebo effects, so perhaps not. Other than that there's no new features to be found which is a bit dissapointing...then again we're really not sure what we're missing either.

Update: As noted in comments by ptosan, their blog has the details:

"Now, you can have longer conversations without interruption and the app (conversations, included!) will load faster. We’ve also updated the keyboard for smoother typing. We’ve taken measures to improve the overall WP7 experience and performance."

Grab Kik here in the Marketplace for free.

Daniel Rubino
Daniel Rubino
Editor-in-chief

Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central, head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft since 2007 when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and for some reason, watches. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, watched people sleep (for medical purposes!), and ran the projectors at movie theaters because it was fun.

14 Comments
  • All I've noticed so far is that links are clickable in conversations now.
  • http://www.kik.com/blog/2012/02/faster-and-better-on-wp7/
    From their blog:
    Hey Kiksters,
    Check out our updated WP7 app, now in the app store!
    Now, you can have longer conversations without interruption and the app (conversations, included!) will load faster. We’ve also updated the keyboard for smoother typing. We’ve taken measures to improve the overall WP7 experience and performance.
    Enjoy
  • There was a bug in the previous version that would sometimes crash the application when attempting to open a long conversation.  This has been fixed in this version.  I've also noticed that everytime I start the application fresh, it appears to dynamically load your contacts.
  • Have to try this update. Mine crashes alot.
  • why would i want this? when I send a message to someone in my contact list I just do it from the message hub..so what am I missing by not using this sort of app.
  • It comes in handy for those of us not wanting to pay for texting packages. With at&t I save $30 per month by using apps such as kik.
  • Plus if you chat with people all around the world or travel a lot, it beats the hell out of SMS. True, if you have unlimitd SMS, stay local and don't have any international friends, the importance is certainly less.
  • I'm guessing you've never owned a BlackBerry.  The application sends messages sort of like an IM.  It uses your data connection which is cheaper than text messages.  As of such, you are not limited to the protocols of SMS. You can send all types of data through this connection such as pictures (and videos and voicenotes providing that your application supports it which Kik does not).
    It also tracks your messages.  You can tell if someone has actually opened your message and read it or if it has been delivered and the person hasn't looked at it yet.  What makes this better than BlackBerry is that is is cross platform, so your friends can have almost any type of smartphone and it will work.
  • Thanks
  • Way better than WhatsApp. Took me 60 seconds with this app before I decided to make the switch. Good stuff.
  • Seems you can touch a chat bubble and it will expand sideways and show the exact time the message was sent/received. Don't think this was there in the last version. (unless I just missed it)
  • I just tried this.  That was DEFINITELY not in the previous version.  That is soo awesome!  People have been asking for this feature forever!
  • The only thing I miss from the android version is voice input. My wife uses that all the time. It's one if the few things I miss from that platform.
  • When I tried downloading kik on my updated Lumia 720, it said it wasn't compartible with my phone. What do I do?