The concept of an instant multi-messenger isn't exactly new. Thanks to the implementation of different protocols, some programs can manage more than one platform at a time, but in this new era of web apps, mobile devices, and proprietary services, we need Franz, which we can interpret as a wrapper that brings together resources in the style of WhatsApp, Skype, Telegram, TweetDeck, Steam Chat, and Hangouts, among others.
A Brief History of Multi-Messengers
There may have been similar programs before, but my history with multi-messengers began with a classic like Trillian, to later move on to Gaim, which then became Pidgin. With these few words, I've just covered more than fifteen years of development on instant messengers. However, these days we dance to the rhythm of two services, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, the “number one and two” of the market respectively. That said, I believe we will discover cold fusion before the main competitors decide to open their APIs for alternative clients. Anyone interested in bundling different services will have to find a way to “wrap” their official apps and present them under a single environment. That's when Franz appears.
Introducing Franz
Some of our readers may have known Franz as “Emperor of Austria”, but its goal is still the same: to combine different messengers into a single application.
Compatibility and Supported Services
Franz is compatible with Windows (version 7 onwards), Linux (tarball in 32 and 64 bits), and OS X (10.9 Mavericks or higher). The list of supported services extends to 23, including the already mentioned WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, WeChat, Telegram, Skype, Google Hangouts, TweetDeck (Twitter), RocketChat, Steam Chat, and even three email services: Inbox, Gmail, and Outlook. Each application requires a profile name and must be configured individually, but it's a relatively simple process.
Version and Performance
Franz is currently in version 3.1 beta, and although I've noticed some performance issues (100% CPU spikes on more than one occasion), it's without a doubt a good resource for someone who stays in touch using multiple services and is tired of having all the official apps separately.
