ChatBox

Instant messaging applications are a widely used means of communication nowadays, especially due to their compatibility with various mobile devices. These can be for social purposes, gaming or even business. Amongst many of its kind, ChatBox tries to make a name for itself with the possibility to invite your friends up for a game of pool.

As is the case for every instant messaging application, you need to set up an account in order to start chatting with your buddies. Unfortunately, the application is strictly limited to this protocol, with no possibility to import friends lists from other social networks, so you might need to convince your friends too.

The application's main window is designed in the same manner, with the upper part being reserved to the profile view, while the contacts list is displayed in the rest of the space. However, a disadvantage is that the window size is fixed, with no resizing possibility whatsoever.

What's more, you have several predefined groups created to populate with your friends. Another disappointment is that these cannot be deleted, and can take up some space, but you can create new ones, but again, once created they cannot be removed.

In terms of customization, options are rather shallow, with no implemented features that let you change text font, size or style. The same can be said about the profile, a default picture being displayed and no option to change it, nor the possibility to write down a custom message to share as a status.

If you're not paying attention you might miss out incoming messages, because the only way in which you are alerted is acoustically, with no popup chat boxes to display the message, nor any system tray notifications. Voice and video communication are also missing, considerably reducing practicability.

All things considered, ChatBox is a little bit too far from being an application worth competing with the already existing industry giants. Implemented features work well, but this is only because they number incredibly little, with no support for voice and video, nor any other protocols. The only reason worth giving it a try is if you're mad about playing pool.