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It's time to stop texting

dfeldman.medium.com

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Re: It's time to stop texting

#91

Post by afavour »

klodolph wrote: post #70

> Apple uses the green bubbles as a PR tactic to make Android users seem inferior. I've heard this sentiment before but it seems nothing short of insane to me. What's the foundation for this?

I think it's backwards: Android users are (seen to be, in certain circles) inferior and the green bubbles expose your Android ownership. And SMS (as indicated by the green bubble) is inferior to iMessage.

These days both iOS and Android feel pretty whatever but back in the day the iPhone had a level of cultural cache Android didn't. Instagram was iPhone only and there was a huge uproar when it became available on Android because it was losing its cool.

Re: It's time to stop texting

#92

Post by pwinnski »

It's time to stop using RSS for podcasts, instead let's use Spotify.

It's time to stop using https, instead let's use a new protocol owned by Facebook to visit web pages.

It's time to stop using IRC, instead let's use Slack.

It's time to stop using email, instead let's use a proprietary messaging app.

OR let's not commit everything to corporate-controlled protocols and platforms, and keep SMS, RSS, HTTPS, email, and so on. Please.

Re: It's time to stop texting

#94

Post by ephbit »

below43 wrote: post #40
nerdjon wrote: post #10

I understand the concerns that they are bringing up, but I feel like saying just download another app completely misses the point of my SMS is so popular. It is just... there. It does what I need it to do without standing in my way of communicating. It is also a standard that is not at the whim of a specific company shutting down a major service (that I am aware of) to continue communicating. I struggled for a while…

Yes, I don't think replacing SMS with a private company/single organisation as the messaging platform provider is the solution (which is why I also count out WhatsApp also, despite currently relying on it heavily to communicate with Android users). I think in the end we need a cross-platform messaging protocol that replaces SMS/MMS that is not reliant on a single app vendor, provides end-to-end encryption and will be…

> I think in the end we need a cross-platform messaging protocol that replaces SMS/MMS that is not reliant on a single app vendor, provides end-to-end encryption and will be supported by mobile network providers.

Except for ".. will be supported by mobile network providers.", doesn't Jabber/XMPP already fulfill all of that?

Also, I'm not sure what you mean by support by mobile network providers.

Re: It's time to stop texting

#95

Post by PaulDavisThe1st »

My primary issue with SMS is that I do not own a phone that ever has a SIM card installed, and I cannot use SMS (reliably, regularly, repeatedly) from my computers. I don't want to use a messaging protocol that is tied to the transport layer(s).

Re: It's time to stop texting

#96

Post by alanbernstein »

_dain_ wrote: post #37
schvenk wrote: post #2

Just published. Abstract: Suppose you had two choices when chatting with your friends. The first will give you a great messaging experience, but you’ll need to sign up for a new app. The second requires no sign-up, but sometimes fails to deliver messages; sends tiny, blurry photos and videos; only works on your phone; confuses all your friends; and offers no privacy whatsoever. That choice is real. And if you’re like…

>confuses all your friends who exactly is confused by SMS?

I'm assuming this is referring to utterly broken iphone/android group messaging.

Re: It's time to stop texting

#98

Post by heikkile »

My library sends me a SMS when my books are due. My doctor sends me a SMS to remind me of the appointment. My bank sends me a SMS to tell me that they have sent me mail in the banking app. The delivery man sends me a SMS to tell that my stuff is on the way... They all do this because they know that SMS just works for (almost) anyone who has a phone number. SMS will not die until all those big systems can trust that the new alternative can reach most of their audience.

Edit: this is in Denmark.

Re: It's time to stop texting

#99

Post by atomicnumber3 »

smcin wrote: post #15
andrewfromx wrote: post #4

I still remember the day when it dawned on me that everyone, like even cool people, could get SMS messages. It was that tipping point when enough people had phones 24/7 and suddenly it wasn't a very nerdy thing to do. Pre this time, the idea of sending an email to ask someone out for a date for example was just laughable. But a txt? It was very different. Still to this day if you meet someone new and get "their numbe…

What year was that tipping point, IYO? in the US

I was in 8th grade when the first iPhone was released, and I'd say most people got a smart phone while I was in college. I myself got one in 2012, a nexus 4. But I think for SMS, the point at which "most kids have a cell with unlimited texting" happened was probably at least around the 2010s. I was late to the trend (poorer family) and got an LG Vu in, oh... say 2009. And I think pretty much all of my friends already had phones with suitable texting plans.

But mind you this is high school kids, I have no idea about adult adoption.

Re: It's time to stop texting

#100

Post by jawns »

There are two things that keep my wife and me tethered to Google Chat as our primary means of texting each other:

1) Search. This is the big one. The fact that I don't even need to differentiate between email and chat when I need to search for something is highly valuable. Plus, its search functionality is just in general very solid. Go figure.

2) Integration into GMail. During the workday, it's more convenient for me to text from my laptop than from my phone. During the evenings, it's often the reverse. The fact that I can easily have a conversation going in my browser, then easily transition the conversation to my phone, is quite useful.

That said, I would love to be convinced that some of the alternatives mentioned in the article can either match or make up for these key features.

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