4 ms·
ironically, they have laws that demand free SMS on most plans. i think only a few categories of pre-paid plans do not. Though that is changing. Couple years ago
by profeta 11y ago
ironically, they have laws that demand free SMS on most plans. i think only a few categories of pre-paid plans do not. Though that is changing. Couple years ago there were laws that set maximum prices on internet and sms for pre-paid plans (R$0.5 a day!), but the telcos already lobbied the downfall of those for this year.
brazil has a huge mentality of "belonging". Supermaket chains that market to upper-middle class (think whole foods) charge 4-10x more for the same product (R$20 instead of R$2.50 for bottled water, same brand). and they are usually just a block from a regular market. yet, you see lines just because people want to belong by purchasing there.
WhatsApp was huge for people that needed to talk to folks overseas in brazil, and close to half the upper class and a large portion of the middle class in brazil sends their kids to study abroad. So flaunting WhatsApp instead of SMS is also a way to show off.
- mascarenhas 11y agoI don't know where the parent lives in Brazil, but the supermarket chain comment definitely has not been my experience in upper-middle class Rio de Janeiro neighborhoods. People use Whatsapp instead of SMS because it simply is a better user experience, specially for sending media and group chat, not for showing off, or keeping in touch with relatives abroad. Phone companies began offering "free whatsapp" even in pre-paid plans because it because it became very popular, as a way to attract costumers, not the other way around.
- profeta 11y agoyou are probably a late adopter. 2010 it was used exclusively for overseas sms. Since nobody had it installed. Then, after it was bought by facebook, they started to PAY telcos around the world to increase penetration and block any competitor. ...telcos offering something for free when they have a closed monopoly :) that was funny.