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Running the iMessage service for a billion iPhone users can't be cheap. Opening up the API and running it for the entire rest of the world for free is a non-sta

Running the iMessage service for a billion iPhone users can't be cheap. Opening up the API and running it for the entire rest of the world for free is a non-starter. No company on earth is that generous, let alone Apple.

kaladin-jasnah 3y ago
Then how does WhatsApp run their service for free across multiple platforms?
- ska 3y ago
  > Then how does WhatsApp run their service for free across multiple platforms? FWIW, this is always a good question to ask yourself when considering using a service... they are getting paid for it one way or another.
- oarsinsync 3y ago
  Facebook mines the metadata to increase revenue received through advertising. It’s not free, the end user just isn’t paying in monetary currency.
- umeshunni 3y ago
  The last year it was independent, WhatsApp lost nearly $140M (on a much smaller userbase than it has today) https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1326801/000132680114000047/exhibit991auditedwhatsappi.htm#sF55875FCF1FF3BEFDC9E3C963FAA96C5 https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1326801/000132680114...
Fuzzwah 3y ago
Why does it have to be free? Aren't beeper showing that there is a market of users who would pay to be able to use imessage from non-apple hardware?
- rpmisms 3y ago
  Seriously, Apple would make absolute bank selling this exact service, even if it was restricted to blue bubbles, reactions, and high-quality media.
  - riscy 3y ago
    That's exactly what the announced RCS support for iOS provides. Just not the blue color of iMessage.
    - rpmisms 3y ago
      No, Apple won't be charging for that service.
    - gruez 3y ago
      Isn't RCS hosted by the carriers rather than Apple?
      - meepmorp 3y ago
        Yes, it's basically an SMS replacement, with at least as much carrier control.
      - dwaite 3y ago
        It is actually more often than not hosted by Google
- Longhanks 3y ago
  Why should Apple be bullied to enter a market they clearly have no interest in? Apple's message is clear: if you want iMessage, get an Apple device. And I fail to understand how "access to iMessage" should be considered a public good that Apple must be forced to allow others access to, there's nothing special about it, there's plenty of different services providing the same experience, anyone can launch an iMessage competitor.
  - Levitz 3y ago
    > there's nothing special about it, there's plenty of different services providing the same experience, anyone can launch an iMessage competitor. There very evidently is something special about it. It comes from Apple, so it enjoys the advantages of their closed ecosystem and Apple can get away with offering an inferior product. Apple has no interest in a market they control which has interested customers. Apple should be bullied into it because any other option is an utter failure of capitalism.
    - Longhanks 3y ago
      Apple does not "get away" with offering an inferior product. Any other messenger can be installed on Apple's devices and the OS does not penalize the user in any way for choosing e.g. WhatsApp over iMessage. > Apple should be bullied into it because any other option is an utter failure of capitalism. This is an extreme hyperbole, capitalism isn't going to fail because some people think less of "green bubble folks". Also, that scheme failed in any other market than the US. US folks engaging in bullying because of some messenger preferences does not mean you get to dictate the market, and if it does, please provide me some information about that law from which you derive that justification.

kaladin-jasnah 3y ago

Then how does WhatsApp run their service for free across multiple platforms?

ska 3y ago
> Then how does WhatsApp run their service for free across multiple platforms? FWIW, this is always a good question to ask yourself when considering using a service... they are getting paid for it one way or another.
oarsinsync 3y ago
Facebook mines the metadata to increase revenue received through advertising. It’s not free, the end user just isn’t paying in monetary currency.
umeshunni 3y ago
The last year it was independent, WhatsApp lost nearly $140M (on a much smaller userbase than it has today) https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1326801/000132680114000047/exhibit991auditedwhatsappi.htm#sF55875FCF1FF3BEFDC9E3C963FAA96C5 https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1326801/000132680114...

Fuzzwah 3y ago

Why does it have to be free? Aren't beeper showing that there is a market of users who would pay to be able to use imessage from non-apple hardware?

rpmisms 3y ago
Seriously, Apple would make absolute bank selling this exact service, even if it was restricted to blue bubbles, reactions, and high-quality media.
- riscy 3y ago
  That's exactly what the announced RCS support for iOS provides. Just not the blue color of iMessage.
  - rpmisms 3y ago
    No, Apple won't be charging for that service.
  - gruez 3y ago
    Isn't RCS hosted by the carriers rather than Apple?
    - meepmorp 3y ago
      Yes, it's basically an SMS replacement, with at least as much carrier control.
    - dwaite 3y ago
      It is actually more often than not hosted by Google
Longhanks 3y ago
Why should Apple be bullied to enter a market they clearly have no interest in? Apple's message is clear: if you want iMessage, get an Apple device. And I fail to understand how "access to iMessage" should be considered a public good that Apple must be forced to allow others access to, there's nothing special about it, there's plenty of different services providing the same experience, anyone can launch an iMessage competitor.
- Levitz 3y ago
  > there's nothing special about it, there's plenty of different services providing the same experience, anyone can launch an iMessage competitor. There very evidently is something special about it. It comes from Apple, so it enjoys the advantages of their closed ecosystem and Apple can get away with offering an inferior product. Apple has no interest in a market they control which has interested customers. Apple should be bullied into it because any other option is an utter failure of capitalism.
  - Longhanks 3y ago
    Apple does not "get away" with offering an inferior product. Any other messenger can be installed on Apple's devices and the OS does not penalize the user in any way for choosing e.g. WhatsApp over iMessage. > Apple should be bullied into it because any other option is an utter failure of capitalism. This is an extreme hyperbole, capitalism isn't going to fail because some people think less of "green bubble folks". Also, that scheme failed in any other market than the US. US folks engaging in bullying because of some messenger preferences does not mean you get to dictate the market, and if it does, please provide me some information about that law from which you derive that justification.