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Outside of the U.S., WhatsApp has replaced text messaging for a massive amount of people. I'm not quite sure what happened to make this possible, but I think o
by tedmiston 10y ago
Outside of the U.S., WhatsApp has replaced text messaging for a massive amount of people.
I'm not quite sure what happened to make this possible, but I think one related factor has to do with prepaid cell phone plans being more normal and less the exception, and very conscious data usage.
- ido 10y agoWhatsapp is free, SMS is not (especially if texting across borders). Also easier to integrate media and have group chats in whatsapp. But I would say "like SMS, only doesn't cost money even when sending abroad" is the killer feature in my extended family.
- tedmiston 10y agoAh, that's a good point. For the major U.S. providers, sending a text to an international number isn't any different than sending a domestic one. However, sending a text message internationally — when I'm traveling to another country — is totally different and the rate is insane: $0.25/$0.50 per SMS/MMS sent. So they essentially force you to buy a special 30-day international texting bundle to be able to keep in touch with your friends back home. The rates for data abroad from U.S. carriers are even worse: $60 for 300MB. I'm anxiously awaiting a "Whatsapp for cell data" style plan. How do you handle that?