<p>When it comes to online communication, the big thing these days is mobile messaging.</p><p>For proof of that, you need look no further than Facebook's $19 billion purchase last month of popular messaging application maker WhatsApp. But WhatsApp is only one of a handful of mobile messaging services that have been gaining attention lately for providing consumers with a new way to communicate.</p><p>"They're the cool thing of the moment," said Danielle Levitas, a mobile technology analyst with IDC.</p><p>The new services, which include WeChat, Line, Viber and Telegram, were built from the ground up as mobile apps. They were designed to allow users to swap messages across their mobile phones while avoiding pricey texting fees.</p><p><a href="http://phys.org/news/2014-03-troy-wolverton-thingmobile-messaging.html">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://www.nbcbayarea.com/blogs/press-here/Facebook-Whatsapp-Acquisition-in-Jeopardy-249595751.html">Facebook WhatsApp Acquisition in Jeopardy?</a> (NBC Bay Area (blog))</p><p><a href="http://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/2014/03/11/analyst-facebook-did-not-overpay-for-whatsapp/">Analyst: Facebook Did Not Overpay for WhatsApp</a> (Fox Business)</p><p><a href="http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2333424/whatsapp-for-android-gets-a-privacy-update-after-facebook-buyout">Whatsapp for Android gets a privacy update after Facebook buyout</a> (Inquirer)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=d0Yub5RQEJCV6zMipCtgSSTM4owiM&authuser=0&ned=us">47 additional articles.</a></p>