Friends can always detect when I’ve got the tech bug, especially if it’s a social tool. Kik Messenger is one of those bug-inducing technologies, and apparently I’m not the only one who caught it–it’s seen explosive growth in the iPhone app store.

Kik is a messaging application, reminiscent of standard SMS apps, but with an added bonus: every message is accompanied by a delivery status notification, letting you know when your friend has received the message, and if they’ve read it. If your friend is typing, it also reveals that.

How convenient! Many times, we’re quick to assume that the person on the other end has read the message and is simply ignoring it, so Kik provides clarification.

It has other useful features, too–automatically detecting when a person in your phonebook joins the service (as long as you’re also in that person’s phonebook.). Kik also comes with a nice set of emoticons for the truly expressive types.

If you’re a BBM user, then you’re probably realizing that Kik is its sibling– the more mature sibling, of course, since it can be used across iPhones, Android phones, and BlackBerrys. Sadly, PalmOS and Windows have been left out.

Since adopting Kik, I’ve ignored my iPhone’s native messenger, only using it to message friends without the app. Alas, I do have a wishlist for Kik: the ability to send photos, have a profile picture, and refresh the app.
Download Kik Messenger: