Yahoo Unveils New Livetext App With Silent Video Messaging Features For Mobile

The only novel feature of Livetext is that, unlike other video messaging apps, it has no sound. Companies can now post messages to you. The lack of audio, the company says, removes inhibitions that people might feel when they otherwise receive video calls in public.

No group chats are yet available on Livetext, but you can let individual users see where you are and what you are doing as you write text messages to them.

Yahoo’s Livetext messaging app was officially announced on Wednesday in New York City. Silent video messaging appeals to this behaviour as well, and could help attract users that have grown up with animated Gif images and texting as key parts of their online experience. However, both parties need to agree to a friend request before a connection is made between users in the app.

Livetext comes at a time when the Silicon Valley giant is desperate for more mobile products.

Silent video, on the other hand, can be used in nearly any situation where text chats are possible, with the added bonus of conveying a person’s emotions and a sense of place. By creating highly personalized experiences for our users, we keep people connected to what matters most to them, across devices and around the world.

“Every platform shift leads to new forms of communication, driven by our desire to connect and interact in richer ways”, Cahan said in a statement. Historically, it hasn’t been interested in pursuing many social services, but it looks like that may soon begin to change as Yahoo bolsters its communication services with Livetext.

Tests will first be conducted in various countries including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Ireland, and some United States colleges.

“It’s a new way to communicate: casual text on top of video”, said Arjun Sethi, a senior director of product management at Yahoo and head of the Livetext project.

It seems Yahoo is positioning Livetext as more of an augmentation to texting, not a stripped down video chat client. The MessageMe startup was purchased by Yahoo during the previous year.