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WhatsApp, iMessage, BBM, WeChat. They're all basically the same thing: Private messaging services. Simple. I think ultimately that's all people want to do as fa

WhatsApp, iMessage, BBM, WeChat. They're all basically the same thing: Private messaging services. Simple. I think ultimately that's all people want to do as far as communication is concerned. Not that any one service will win, but in order for any of them to do well, I think they need to do the following: - Private messaging - Group messages - Images - Free, or very very cheap (I don't think anybody has really tested the idea of charging a fee yet) - Cross-platform - leaving out BBM and iMessage - Some way of getting your address book from an existing address book -- Web/desktop messaging. This isn't as important for the younger generation but for many others it is. The only reason BBM and iMessage are or were popular was because they came pretty early and came with devices, but leaving friends out of conversations because they use a different platform from you is damaging, which is why WhatsApp became so popular, and why Facebook Messenger is so popular too.

10dpd 13y ago
FYI: WhatsApp charged initially to cover their server costs.
- w1ntermute 13y ago
  They still charge $0.99/yr after the first year (which is free).
  - basicallydan 13y ago
    Really? I haven't been charged yet!
    - Spittie 13y ago
      Some accounts got charged after a free year, some got charged after a "trial" of many years, others get "gifted" a lifetime free service. I'm in the last group, but I know that people that had to pay for WhatsApp.
  - manojlds 13y ago
    They keep saying I will be charge INR 55 from next year, everytime I install the app on a new phone. They never have in the last two years.
what_ever 13y ago
Isn't BBM cross-platform now?
hisham_hm 13y ago
> leaving friends out of conversations because they use a different platform from you is damaging, which is why WhatsApp became so popular But WhatsApp is mobile-only, isn't it? That's why I don't use it. As you said: > -- Web/desktop messaging. This isn't as important for the younger generation but for many others it is. I would add "open protocols" to my requirements list, but I understand it's not something that the people in general care about. The fact that GTalk--err--Hangouts and Facebook Messenger are standard XMPP means that I can use them _anywhere_ (with Pidgin on Linux, Xabber on Android, etc etc.) and I'm not tied to a client from a vendor.

10dpd 13y ago

FYI: WhatsApp charged initially to cover their server costs.

w1ntermute 13y ago
They still charge $0.99/yr after the first year (which is free).
- basicallydan 13y ago
  Really? I haven't been charged yet!
  - Spittie 13y ago
    Some accounts got charged after a free year, some got charged after a "trial" of many years, others get "gifted" a lifetime free service. I'm in the last group, but I know that people that had to pay for WhatsApp.
- manojlds 13y ago
  They keep saying I will be charge INR 55 from next year, everytime I install the app on a new phone. They never have in the last two years.

what_ever 13y ago

Isn't BBM cross-platform now?

hisham_hm 13y ago

> leaving friends out of conversations because they use a different platform from you is damaging, which is why WhatsApp became so popular But WhatsApp is mobile-only, isn't it? That's why I don't use it. As you said: > -- Web/desktop messaging. This isn't as important for the younger generation but for many others it is. I would add "open protocols" to my requirements list, but I understand it's not something that the people in general care about. The fact that GTalk--err--Hangouts and Facebook Messenger are standard XMPP means that I can use them _anywhere_ (with Pidgin on Linux, Xabber on Android, etc etc.) and I'm not tied to a client from a vendor.