There are unique and addicting apps like Snapchat that gain millions of users that stick with the service, and then there are quirky and mildly-interesting apps like Yik Yak that have a few million users that generally uninstall it after a few weeks once the initial interest wears off. Unfortunately for Yahoo, its new Livetext app appears to be one of the latter, but the the good news is that it certainly has the potential to be one of the former if Yahoo works at improving its flaws.
Chances are your phone is chock-full of messaging apps already, whether it’s Facebook Messenger, Snapchat, WhatsApp, Yik Yak or something else. Even so, Yahoo is hoping you’ll give its latest app, Livetext for iOS and Android, a shot. Think of Livetext as text-messaging that marries some of Snapchat’s ephemerality with some elements of Periscope and Meerkat live video. But Livetext’s live video sports text without sound: You can see the other person, but communication mostly happens by text. Once the session ends, the entire conversation disappears. Confused? So was I. But Livetext makes more sense once you try it. Here are our first impressions. Livetext officially launched in the U.S. on Thursday, and while it’s very early days –- day three, to be exact -– finding people to chat with might be hard to do. One or two friends may have already downloaded Livetext, but more likely you’ll have to add friends from your address book. Pick a contact, and Livetext shoots them a brief text from your phone with a link to download the app.
