<p>Wellington, May 5 (ANI): Chat apps and free messaging services designed for smartphones are slowly killing text messaging with businesses and teenagers shifting their way of communication.</p><p>Teenagers like 16-year-old James McMinn from North Auckland are now turning to Apple's iMessage and chatting on Facebook despite being on a mobile phone plan which offers him "unlimited texts", reports Stuff.co.nz.</p><p>McMinn says he enjoys the extra space available for words on Facebook, unlike the limited 160 characters typically available in SMS messages. He also likes iMessage because it tells him when messages are being delivered and if they've been seen by the recipient and if they're replying.</p><p>Smartphone apps such as BlackBerry Messenger, iMessage, Microsoft Lync, Vyper, Skype and What's App are changing the way telcos make money, as well as the way people communicate.</p><p><a href="http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2013/05/05/201--Smartphone-chat-apps-taking-over-text-messaging-.html">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://www.omaha.com/article/20130505/MONEY/705059945/1707">Texting shifts to Internet; phone companies not LOL</a> (Omaha World-Herald)</p><p><a href="http://www.stableytimes.com/news/text-messages-drop-5-thanks-to-apple-imessage-and-facebook-messenger/">Text messages drop 5% thanks to Apple iMessage and Facebook Messenger</a> (Stabley Times)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dV5w5v1eoHVskUMjGJiiFzFIjOQnM&ned=us">5 additional articles.</a></p>