Are there enough messaging apps for you yet? Let's see, we've got WhatsApp, Snapchat, Kik, Facebook Messenger, and Slingshot. If those aren't enough, you can send private messages within other apps, including Instagram, Vine, Skype, and Viber. If security's a concern, you have secure messaging apps like Confide and Editors' Choice winner Wickr. The latest twist on messaging comes from a service that already lets you text message within its primary app, Skype. Called Skype Qik (free), the new app has you communicating with short, Vine-like selfie videos. It's a beautifully designed app, but do you really need another way to message your peeps? Let's find out.

Get Going Qikly

You don't need a Skype account to use Qik, but, as with many messaging apps (think WhatApp and Viber), you do need to enter your mobile phone number and grant access to your iPhone contacts. That makes it easier for you to find people and vice versa. Snapchat and Skype itself, however, do not require you to enter a phone number.

Versions of Qik are available for Android and Windows Phone, too. That's refreshing, considering how most apps launch only for the iPhone at first, with the other platforms following at unpredictable intervals. The reasonably sized 32MB app runs on iOS 7 or later, so don't worry if you haven't yet upgraded to iOS 8.1.

Interface

Qik is beautiful to look at and use. Like Snapchat, it eschews traditional app design to put the most important features up front. Once you've got a few conversations going, your Qik screen shows them as wide bands with the users' names and a blurry image. Swiping across these lets you hide them. A cool interface touch is that you can swipe up and down between shooting view and inbox view at any time. As with Snapchat, Qik's messages are impermanent. Any message you send is deleted automatically after two weeks. As with just about every app that has anything to do with photos or videos, with Qik you tap the big lens icon at top center to get going.