US is iPhone-land. iPhone users default to iMessage and "don't want another app", so SMS is still going strong, as it's only bridge between ecosystems. Rest of

US is iPhone-land. iPhone users default to iMessage and "don't want another app", so SMS is still going strong, as it's only bridge between ecosystems. Rest of the world is more diverse, so iPhone users don't get to force their default on everyone (as it's crappy if you don't have an iPhone). Also Google constantly fails to build vaiable, cross platform alternative. Therefore everyone is used to having a few apps. Basically situation in US is what you get if you allow entire nation to be put in walled garden. Also it's absurd, that instant messaging, that had zero meaningful innovation over last 20 years, still isn't over open protocol and we tolerate that's used by corporations to pressure customers into their ecosystems.