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That is a very good point, even if you don't immediately realize the deeper implications. :) In India, you generally pay per text message - so if you can convi

That is a very good point, even if you don't immediately realize the deeper implications. :) In India, you generally pay per text message - so if you can convince even 3 of your close friends to start using Whatsapp, you save (say) 20% of your phone bill. Here in US, if you are going to send more than a few texts a month, you are going to be paying 20 USD. So there is no real monetary incentive (initially) for you and two of your friends to switch to Whatsapp.

guelo 13y ago
So why didn't Indian telecoms implement all-you-can-eat messaging to stop the erosion of users moving to WhatsApp?
- hrjet 13y ago
  Indian telecom sector is highly regulated by the Govt. And it is very competitive. So there's no way such an all-or-nothing deal can be introduced so late in the game. Edit: Moreover, the telecoms do make money on the data plans don't they?
- movingahead 13y ago
  They did for prices ranging from $1 - $2 per month. But text messaging does not do groups remotely as well as Whatsapp does.
  - balladeer 13y ago
    You can use it do group thing but then every message sent to group will charged as: cost of one SMS x number of users in the group. That charge will come to each user of the group whenever a message (%160 chars) is sent.
- crucialfelix 13y ago
  Even better they partnered with WhatsApp and offer "unlimited WhatsApp" packs: http://telecomtalk.info/tata-docomo-launches-unlimited-whatsapp-packs-for-rs-15-and-rs-30/111506/ http://telecomtalk.info/tata-docomo-launches-unlimited-whats... SMS costs Rs1 per
- balladeer 13y ago
  The number of WhatsApp users in India is still infinitely less than the plain vanilla SMS people. Specially the ones living in villages which is a huge majority with a huger margin. We also have SMS packs like 100 SMS a month by paying Rs 40 or so. But a DoT rule (which was actually twisted and misinterpreted by telecos) make that plan ineffective on any festive day and on those days you pay for each SMS and the rate is almost double or x3 or sometime x4 of what you would have paid without the SMS pack :-)
kamaal 13y ago
The best part is most womenfolk at home, can use unlimited messaging if all they is a wifi connection and absolutely no balance on their pre paid cards. Essentially WhatsApp is free messaging as long as you have a internet connection. And that's pretty cheap these days.

guelo 13y ago

So why didn't Indian telecoms implement all-you-can-eat messaging to stop the erosion of users moving to WhatsApp?

hrjet 13y ago
Indian telecom sector is highly regulated by the Govt. And it is very competitive. So there's no way such an all-or-nothing deal can be introduced so late in the game. Edit: Moreover, the telecoms do make money on the data plans don't they?
movingahead 13y ago
They did for prices ranging from $1 - $2 per month. But text messaging does not do groups remotely as well as Whatsapp does.
- balladeer 13y ago
  You can use it do group thing but then every message sent to group will charged as: cost of one SMS x number of users in the group. That charge will come to each user of the group whenever a message (%160 chars) is sent.
crucialfelix 13y ago
Even better they partnered with WhatsApp and offer "unlimited WhatsApp" packs: http://telecomtalk.info/tata-docomo-launches-unlimited-whatsapp-packs-for-rs-15-and-rs-30/111506/ http://telecomtalk.info/tata-docomo-launches-unlimited-whats... SMS costs Rs1 per
balladeer 13y ago
The number of WhatsApp users in India is still infinitely less than the plain vanilla SMS people. Specially the ones living in villages which is a huge majority with a huger margin. We also have SMS packs like 100 SMS a month by paying Rs 40 or so. But a DoT rule (which was actually twisted and misinterpreted by telecos) make that plan ineffective on any festive day and on those days you pay for each SMS and the rate is almost double or x3 or sometime x4 of what you would have paid without the SMS pack :-)

kamaal 13y ago

The best part is most womenfolk at home, can use unlimited messaging if all they is a wifi connection and absolutely no balance on their pre paid cards. Essentially WhatsApp is free messaging as long as you have a internet connection. And that's pretty cheap these days.