821–830 of 956 posts
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In the US, using iMessage involves flipping a switch in some Messages setting--and everyone I know in the US just texts, except for texting with international folks.
No switch flipping needed, if you send a text to another iPhone it’ll just do an iMessage instead.
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Why is this a problem? Typical HN downvoting because of “muh vendor lockin” without giving an answer as to why exactly this matters for the general population. It is a fantastic business model.
Because we want to interact with our friends and family without being forced to switch platforms. I don't care about Apple's business model.
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Because we want to interact with our friends and family without being forced to switch platforms. I don't care about Apple's business model.
If you feel your ability to interact with your friends and family is threatened by some business launching a service, you should seriously question your friends and family and/or your and/or their social/communication skills.
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Everytime iMessage is mentioned, I do a double take because it is almost non existent here in Turkey. And from what I hear, seems like most Europeans do not use it too. WhatsApp has like 99.9% market share here and I assume it is a lot bigger than anything else in the EU too. I wonder why is that though. Everyone around me has an iPhone basically and I haven’t received a blue bubble in years. The messages app is not…
As I understand it, many Americans (and all iPhones?) had unlimited-SMS phone plans circa 2009. So the pay-per-message economic conditions that caused many Europeans, etc., to switch to WhatsApp back in the day didn't do anything in the USA. Then when the same iPhone app seamlessly started sending iMessages (blue bubbles) to other iPhones rather than SMS (green bubbles), people just kept using that.
When Whatsapp launched, SMS still wasn't free, the exception being some carriers that offered "free" SMS to numbers of the same carrier if the sender was on a premium coverage plan. In sum, majority of the population was still paying $0,10-$0,20 despite already having data plans. So it was an easy win for WhatsApp.
I really hope this fails. Apple will use it's dominant position to create lock in like how they did with iMessage instead of cooperating with other platforms on a common standard. Oder friends and family are surprised when they want to video call over Facetime and find it hard to believe other people's phones don't have Apple apps.
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As I understand it, many Americans (and all iPhones?) had unlimited-SMS phone plans circa 2009. So the pay-per-message economic conditions that caused many Europeans, etc., to switch to WhatsApp back in the day didn't do anything in the USA. Then when the same iPhone app seamlessly started sending iMessages (blue bubbles) to other iPhones rather than SMS (green bubbles), people just kept using that.
>> So the pay-per-message economic conditions that caused many Europeans, etc., to switch to WhatsApp back in the day didn't do anything in the USA. I see this listed as the reason often but I had unlimited SMS then too. In fact I remember visiting the US in 2009 and I was charged to send AND receive an SMS which was a shock. I think the actual reason is that communication across borders in Europe is very common and…
I think some demographic info can be useful in judging the potential uptake. Apple iPhone ownership amongst USA teens: 2024: 87% 2019: 83% 2014: 67% https://www.iclarified.com/95177/87-of-us-teens-own-iphones-... https://www.pipersandler.com/news/piper-jaffray-completes-se... https://www.pipersandler.com/news/different-new-cool-accordi... Smartphone marketshare for iPhone in various countries: 65%: Norway 59%: Sweden…
Norway data from statcounter doesn't seem reliable. In just 4 months, July->October 2024, there's a 14% upswing in iphone total marketshare. Which implies that at least 14% of users bought a new phone, assuming (wrongly) that everybody would have changed from Android to iPhone (ignoring also deceases and teenagers getting their first phone). And the period doesn't even include Black Friday or Christmas. And barely th…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
As I understand it, many Americans (and all iPhones?) had unlimited-SMS phone plans circa 2009. So the pay-per-message economic conditions that caused many Europeans, etc., to switch to WhatsApp back in the day didn't do anything in the USA. Then when the same iPhone app seamlessly started sending iMessages (blue bubbles) to other iPhones rather than SMS (green bubbles), people just kept using that.
>> So the pay-per-message economic conditions that caused many Europeans, etc., to switch to WhatsApp back in the day didn't do anything in the USA. I see this listed as the reason often but I had unlimited SMS then too. In fact I remember visiting the US in 2009 and I was charged to send AND receive an SMS which was a shock. I think the actual reason is that communication across borders in Europe is very common and…
> I think the actual reason is that communication across borders in Europe is very common and those SMS's were not included in the unlimited plans as they were messages abroad. So they were subject to fees (usually high ones).
So, you completely agree with what you seem to be taking issue with.
I coordinate creating events but have to sort through figuring out a date that works for most/everyone. And since I'm coordinating with non-employees (no view into their calendar), figuring out peoples calendar is a main pain.
If this functionality could be added, it'd be game changing for me.