4 ms·

SMS and MMS are almost completely irrelevant outside of North America.

izacus 10y ago
That's not even remotely true. It's the only common denominator on the mobile network that ensures delivery to everyone and it's still widely used everywhere.
- hocuspocus 10y ago
  I'm not saying it's not used, but it's mostly used one way (I receive SMS's but never send any) and irrelevant for modern instant messaging. The common denominator where I live is Whatsapp. If you send an SMS to someone, they will very likely not reply. In other countries it can be WeChat, LINE, Kakaotalk, ... and Signal is competing in this space.
fredsir 10y ago
What the? ... Oh, you mean on that alternative Earth where America is the only country.
- teekert 10y ago
  Well, where I live, in the Netherlands, SMS is indeed completely irrelevant.
  - 0x006A 10y ago
    is it no longer used by banks for mTAN transaction verification?
    - teekert 10y ago
      Some banks indeed do still use that option but it i s decreasing. Some have apps without 2FA (the use a separate code) or they have key generators that work with you bank pass (a form of 2FA.)
  - fredsir 10y ago
    It's used widely all over the world each second. In Denmark, its used by everyone including public and private institutions for sending e.g. doctors visit notice, notice about garbage pick-up and so forth. I don't have statics on hand but in 2015 it was around 97% of Americans that send at least one SMS each day. I still believe we should get rid of it and use something encrypted.
kbart 10y ago
I live in Europe and SMS is very much relevant as unlimited number is included in my subscription fee. Data, on the other hand, is capped, so it definitely makes sense to use SMS.
- hocuspocus 10y ago
  Your country is an exception in Europe then, not the norm.
  - edent 10y ago
    Not really. The GSMA did some research on this - see https://www.gsmaintelligence.com/research/2016/12/ip-messaging-gathers-pace-but-sms-still-strong-in-certain-markets/594/ https://www.gsmaintelligence.com/research/2016/12/ip-messagi...
    - hocuspocus 10y ago
      That study just proves my point :)
proactivesvcs 10y ago
Dozens of my customers SMS me, as well as many friends and family, and several friends send me MMS from time to time. UK here.

That's not even remotely true. It's the only common denominator on the mobile network that ensures delivery to everyone and it's still widely used everywhere.

hocuspocus 10y ago
I'm not saying it's not used, but it's mostly used one way (I receive SMS's but never send any) and irrelevant for modern instant messaging. The common denominator where I live is Whatsapp. If you send an SMS to someone, they will very likely not reply. In other countries it can be WeChat, LINE, Kakaotalk, ... and Signal is competing in this space.

fredsir 10y ago

What the? ... Oh, you mean on that alternative Earth where America is the only country.

teekert 10y ago
Well, where I live, in the Netherlands, SMS is indeed completely irrelevant.
- 0x006A 10y ago
  is it no longer used by banks for mTAN transaction verification?
  - teekert 10y ago
    Some banks indeed do still use that option but it i s decreasing. Some have apps without 2FA (the use a separate code) or they have key generators that work with you bank pass (a form of 2FA.)
- fredsir 10y ago
  It's used widely all over the world each second. In Denmark, its used by everyone including public and private institutions for sending e.g. doctors visit notice, notice about garbage pick-up and so forth. I don't have statics on hand but in 2015 it was around 97% of Americans that send at least one SMS each day. I still believe we should get rid of it and use something encrypted.

kbart 10y ago

I live in Europe and SMS is very much relevant as unlimited number is included in my subscription fee. Data, on the other hand, is capped, so it definitely makes sense to use SMS.

hocuspocus 10y ago
Your country is an exception in Europe then, not the norm.
- edent 10y ago
  Not really. The GSMA did some research on this - see https://www.gsmaintelligence.com/research/2016/12/ip-messaging-gathers-pace-but-sms-still-strong-in-certain-markets/594/ https://www.gsmaintelligence.com/research/2016/12/ip-messagi...
  - hocuspocus 10y ago
    That study just proves my point :)

proactivesvcs 10y ago

Dozens of my customers SMS me, as well as many friends and family, and several friends send me MMS from time to time. UK here.