The explosion of interest in mobile messaging platforms has prompted heated competition to secure the largest and most loyal global user base. From LINE’s stickers to WeChat’s partnership with Lionel Messi, there’s a race to innovate, and fast.

In a smartphone-centric society, fluidity and unpredictability have become the norm. People are accustomed to living by their own schedules, and on their own terms. Enter YPlan, an app that takes the hassle out of having to plan ahead.

"People think it's just an app that says 'Yo,'" Yo founder Arbel told theNew York Times. "We like to call it context-based messaging.” Effectively, Yo really is just an app that says 'Yo'. So why has it already been used four million times and attracted $1 million of investment?

Ever passed someone on the street and wish you'd had the courage to get their number? French dating app Happn ensures that'll never happen again – provided they also have the app. It combines the spontaneity of apps like Tinder with specific geolocation functionality.