Wire (Messenger)

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Wire

Wire software logo.svg
Basic data

developer Wire Swiss GmbH
Publishing year 3rd December 2014
Current  version 3.52.927 ( Android )
July 22, 2020

3.63 ( iOS )
July 31, 2020

3.19.3731 ( Windows )
August 5, 2020

3.19.3799 ( macOS )
August 5, 2020

3.19.2928 ( Linux )
August 5, 2020

operating system Android (from 5.0),
iOS (from 10),
Windows (from 7 ),
macOS  (from  OS X 10.9 ),
Linux or browser-based
programming language C ++
category Instant messaging , IP telephony
License GNU General Public License v3.0
German speaking Yes
https://wire.com/de

Wire (. English cable , even within the meaning of the telegram ; cf. dt obsolete.. Cables , ) Send a cable (telegram ) is an instant messenger for smartphones and tablets ( Android or iOS ) and Windows - macOS - and Linux Computers . Calls to and from certain web browsers ( Chrome , Firefox and Opera ) are possible via the Wire for Web service and the WebRTC interface . The messenger is also available in German.

Wire is free for private use. There are various subscriptions for companies that currently (July 2020) cost from € 6 per month (€ 5 for a 12-month subscription, € 4 for a 24-month subscription).

With Wire, like many other instant messengers, users can exchange text messages, pictures, music and videos and make calls with one another via VoIP - even in groups. The manufacturer tries to stand out from other instant messengers through the sole, explanation-free display of the message content and more data protection than other messengers. Wire (client and server) is now completely open-source according to the manufacturer . It is possible to operate your own server. Wire is available as an application for mobile devices and desktop, or can be accessed through a web browser ; No telephone number is required to register for use, the user can also log in with an email address.

history

The company behind Wire - Wire Swiss GmbH - was founded under the name Zeta Project Swiss GmbH . Initially, the shareholder was Zeta Project, Inc. , based in Dover (Delaware) , now it is Wire Group Holdings Inc. , also based in Dover.

Wire Swiss GmbH is based in Switzerland and runs the technical development of its instant messenger in Berlin. According to the company, servers from Amazon ( AWS ) located in the EU are used . The team consists of former employees from Apple , Skype , Nokia and Microsoft . Janus Friis - co-founder of Skype - is one of the donors through the Iconical company.

The first version of Wire was released on December 3, 2014 for iOS, Android and OS X. At first it was only possible to share music via SoundCloud , and videos only via YouTube . There was also no German localization at the beginning.

Functions

communication

In August 2015, group calls in stereo quality were introduced, which are possible with up to ten people. Video telephony has also been possible via Wire since March 2016, whereby video conferences can be carried out with up to four people.

End-to-end encryption

All communication content on Wire is end-to-end encrypted. The Proteus cryptography protocol is used for text messages, files (e.g. images) and 1: 1 call signaling, which is a Wire-own (open) implementation of the Axolotl / Double Ratchet protocol. The messenger uses axolotl ratchet and pre-keys, which are optimized for mobile messaging. Calls use DTLS for key exchange and authentication, and SRTP for transport encryption of the media data . Since April 2018, it has also been possible to add participants to discussions via web links that Wire has not installed itself. These conversations with non-Wire users are also end-to-end encrypted.

Integration of media

With Wire, users can send animated GIF files directly in the app; the Giphy service has been integrated directly into the chat functions for this purpose. It is also possible to share YouTube, Soundcloud, Spotify and Vimeo content with your contacts directly in the app. The iOS and Android versions also have the Sketch feature , which users can use to draw and send pictures.

Synchronization on all platforms

The chat histories can be synchronized between multiple devices of a user, even across platforms.

Source code

The source code of the clients is available on GitHub . Since the beginning of April 2017, the source code of the server has also been gradually published on GitHub.

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Installation page for Android. Retrieved July 26, 2020 .
  2. ↑ GitHub Repository (iOS). In: github.com. Retrieved August 5, 2020 .
  3. ↑ a b GitHub Repository (Desktop). In: wire.com. Retrieved August 5, 2020 .
  4. ↑ GitHub Repository (Desktop). In: wire.com. Retrieved August 5, 2020 .
  5. ^ GitHub Repositoy. In: github.com. Retrieved April 26, 2020 .
  6. ↑ a b c Henning Steier: Skype founder competes with Skype. In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung . December 3, 2014, accessed November 18, 2015 .
  7. ↑ a b Wire Now Available In German. (No longer available online.) In: wire.com. August 11, 2015, archived from the original on August 16, 2017 ; accessed on November 4, 2019 .
  8. ↑ Private secure messenger. In: wire.com. Retrieved July 12, 2020 .
  9. ↑ prices. In: wire.com. Retrieved July 14, 2020 .
  10. ↑ a b Swiss app Wire attacks WhatsApp. In: stern.de . December 3, 2014, accessed July 14, 2017 .
  11. ↑ a b Patrick Beuth: Spreading messages like infectious diseases. In: The time . December 5, 2014, accessed November 18, 2015 .
  12. ↑ ?? Wire back-end services. Contribute to wireapp / wire-server development by creating an account on GitHub. Wire Swiss GmbH, January 25, 2019, accessed on January 25, 2019 .
  13. ↑ The safest way to work together. · Wire. Retrieved January 25, 2019 .
  14. ^ Extract from the commercial register of Wire Swiss GmbH
  15. ↑ Katrin Rammo: Wire: secure Skype and WhatsApp alternative. February 13, 2017. Retrieved July 9, 2017 .
  16. ↑ Melanie Tönies (Mel): Wire: Messenger developed in Berlin, now in German and with group calls. In: appgefahren.de. August 13, 2015, accessed February 27, 2017 .
  17. ↑ Start or end a group call. In: wire.com. Retrieved March 22, 2020 .
  18. ↑ Thomas Heuzeroth: The trick that is supposed to break the superiority of WhatsApp. In: welt.de . March 10, 2016, accessed February 27, 2017 .
  19. ↑ a b Nadine Juliana Dressler: Messenger Wire gets video calls and complete encryption. In: winfuture.de. March 11, 2016, accessed February 27, 2017 .
  20. ↑ Video and telephone conferences. In: wire.com. Retrieved March 22, 2020 .
  21. ↑ Simple, secure, private - always end-to-end encrypted. In: wire.com. Retrieved February 27, 2017 .
  22. ↑ Tobias Schwarz: Wire relies entirely on end-to-end encryption. In: netzpiloten.de. March 10, 2016, accessed February 27, 2017 .
  23. ↑ Vivien Stellmach: WhatsApp alternatives under the microscope: What can Wire do? In: basicthinking.de. Retrieved March 22, 2020 .
  24. ↑ Tobias Schwarz: From Berlin and different: the messenger app Wire. In: netzpiloten.de. November 11, 2015, accessed February 27, 2017 .
  25. ↑ Denny Fischer: Wire: New Messenger wants to score with special functions. In: smartdroid.de. June 11, 2015, accessed February 27, 2017 .
  26. ↑ Henning Steier: Difficult search for unique selling points. In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung. August 12, 2015, accessed February 27, 2017 .
  27. ↑ Advantages and disadvantages as well as conclusion for the Windows version at Chip Online , accessed on March 25, 2017.
  28. ↑ Wire clients on Github
  29. ↑ Wire server on Github
  30. ↑ Ferdinand Thommes: Instant Messenger Wire reveals server sources , Pro-Linux , April 12, 2017