When will we see a proper messaging system for steemit?

Why are we having to rely on a non-block chain way of messaging each other? I was looking towards Zappl for this, but, after returning after a six month fast from technology of all kinds, they had made zero progress in development that I could see..and it still said the same thing regarding the messaging portion of that Dapp. Is there such a thing yet and I just have not seen it?

I have an old iPad, I can't download discus, nor do I wish too actually. A platform without a messaging system to call its own, is rather diminished don't you think?

E-GO 2018