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> I mean, sure, there could be "Whatsapp clones" (aren't there already?!) Sounds funny if you consider that Whatsapp itself is just a branded deployment of FOS

> I mean, sure, there could be "Whatsapp clones" (aren't there already?!) Sounds funny if you consider that Whatsapp itself is just a branded deployment of FOSS XMPP server Ejabberd, with feature of federation taken away. Plus a client app implementation, of course.

jeena 11y ago
That is only possible because Ejabberd doesn't use the AGPL license.
- goodplay 11y ago
  Come on, it would definitely still be possible with AGPL code. What brought people to whatsapp is its ubiquity and the fact that it just works, and what keeps them from going elsewhere is the inevitable network effect. Nothing in the AGPL prevents either from occurring.
  - onli 11y ago
    I think you are misunderstanding jeena. If ejabberd were AGPL, then a fork/a instance of it like Whatsapp would be legally obliged to open up their code as well. No idea whether the assumption is true that Whatsapp is just a branded deployment.
    - goodplay 11y ago
      I still don't understand how opening up the codebase would prevent them from being successful. As the countless messaging apps out there demonstrate, the value of communication apps lies in the network they build. If they provide a decent UX, and successfully bootstrap a network large enough, it wont matter if their code is open.
      - onli 11y ago
        I don't think that was an argument against that. At least I agree. The situation is only possible because the AGPL is not used for the free component, but Whatsapp should have no problem opening up their code.
emdd 11y ago
And, I've been using Viber longer than I knew WhatsApp existed. Just saying...