Yes, SMS is not going anywhere as a result of this. Google voice has been around, and it already enables SMS less SMSs but doesn't suffer the weakness iMessage

Yes, SMS is not going anywhere as a result of this. Google voice has been around, and it already enables SMS less SMSs but doesn't suffer the weakness iMessage does: google voice is inter-operable with other carriers. The reasons google voice didn't replace SMS completely is: -it uses data, and sometimes your signal is too weak to use data -text plans are usually bundled with data plans so they are effectively free anyways (for many people) -an SMS sent without signal will send when it does get signal, but google voice does not (although this is not a technical hurdle)