That's not an explanation and doesn't refute anything.
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And how does that relate to anything here?
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Apple Explains Why iMessage Hasn't Expanded to Android
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So, it's kind of like they're saying in a round-about way that Apple Music is inferior and that's why it's on Android. The only difference is there's no way to make money from iMessages, but there is for Apple Music. So at least they're making money? But I guess they've always used iTunes to try to hook in users on Windows. But what's funny about that is that iTunes is pretty crappy on Windows, so idk how that worked out for them. Probably helped that it existed because it was used so much for syncing the iPhone back in the day, so users were familiar with it. Kind of laid a groundwork. Not sure what their play is this time.
You just explained the reason the revamp the app: the new messages app has an extension store for stickers and what have you, so new revenue stream.
My situation too! I only ever used iMessage until I moved to Asia where NO ONE USES IT. It's all about Line APP here... Which I hate by the way... But I've got no choice. Problem is there's a lot of android users here and people are too cheap to SMS or their plans don't offer free SMS so iMessage is rendered useless in Asia!
Sad, cos it's my favourite messaging app and far less spammy than Line which is relentlessly trying to sell me stupid stickers and games.
I think Apple is not porting iMessage to anywhere else because that will immediately put them in competition with Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, LINE and WeChat. Besides, I like Facebook Messenger, especially the recent updates for iOS, which has made it a really good messaging service (including voice and video chat!).
It has a lot of relevance for me. Most of that 80% I have no need to communicate. The dozen or so that are relevant to me all use either iMessage or SMS. iMessage works with either. For those who are on iMessage, it's my best option, with features like live sharing of physical location.
I can't use iMessage at all because most of my friends rely on WhatsApp
You need new friends.
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Yep. Every morning I wake up and say, "I need to force quit all of my apps right freaking now."
Oh wait. Sorry, I was confused. I wake up and message my girlfriend, and never, ever worry about force quitting all of my apps at once.
A long thread so these points may have been made already. Apologies if they have.
Firstly, anyone - including Apple - who thinks someone will buy an iPhone because of iMessage is deluding themselves. No one will buy a £700 piece of hardware for a messaging app that can only be used to its full potential with other iDevice users. Even the on-contract pricing won't make much difference to this. I agree with what others have said in that keeping iMessage exclusive to iOS could stop people defecting to Android, but I don't believe for a minute anyone would switch the other way just for iMessage.
Secondly, there is a way to monetise iMessage although admittedly not massively. The iMessage App Store. I don't believe for a minute that the same greedy devs who scrape people's wallets for gold and lives via in app purchases won't launch "pay per use" stickers. Personally I'm dreading that possibility but I can almost guarantee it will come.
I think they should go cross platform with iMessage or drop it entirely and let FB Messenger, Whatsapp, and their like have the market space. They're cross platform, do most of the same stuff, and are already being used by millions. Yes they may lose some customers to Android in that case, but I can't see them gaining customers just for iMessage.
Having said that, I doubt sticking iMessage on Android will entice people to use it instead of their current favourite messaging app anyway.
Firstly, anyone - including Apple - who thinks someone will buy an iPhone because of iMessage is deluding themselves. No one will buy a £700 piece of hardware for a messaging app that can only be used to its full potential with other iDevice users. Even the on-contract pricing won't make much difference to this. I agree with what others have said in that keeping iMessage exclusive to iOS could stop people defecting to Android, but I don't believe for a minute anyone would switch the other way just for iMessage.
Secondly, there is a way to monetise iMessage although admittedly not massively. The iMessage App Store. I don't believe for a minute that the same greedy devs who scrape people's wallets for gold and lives via in app purchases won't launch "pay per use" stickers. Personally I'm dreading that possibility but I can almost guarantee it will come.
I think they should go cross platform with iMessage or drop it entirely and let FB Messenger, Whatsapp, and their like have the market space. They're cross platform, do most of the same stuff, and are already being used by millions. Yes they may lose some customers to Android in that case, but I can't see them gaining customers just for iMessage.
Having said that, I doubt sticking iMessage on Android will entice people to use it instead of their current favourite messaging app anyway.
It would be pretty hard to have an iTunes Apple ID account if Apple didn't collect any data...
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You obviously don't own any teenagers... to think they would drop a core function of the iPhone is stupid. If people really want cross platform, then there are solutions. For everyone else, there's iMessage and it works great.
And then watch everyone b*tch that Apple is only out to make money off of people. If they did write it and put it on the Play Store for $5 there would be much gnashing of teeth towards Apple.
It's been followed. Apple doesn't collect/use data like that.
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There are people that own teenagers?
SMS is fine for just plain text. Here in UK if I send a multimedia SMS to a non iMessage user who is also not using WatsApp, I get charged, regardless of having unlimited SMS. And with 20GB data a month, I hardly ever bother to check for wifi, except when I am home.
I don't see where the same argument could be or was made for iTunes for Windows. That product allowed them to sell iPods to Windows users, which in turn allowed them to sell music from the iTMS to Windows users. The same can't be said for iMessage for Android. Even if they could double the number of iMessage users, they'd make nothing for their effort, and maybe even lose some.
I would switch to android if it had iMessage. It is the only think that Apple still does better since i don't use facebook or whats app.
I rarely get to use imessage as all my friends have android. One brother has iphone the other one andriod.
People, Whatsapp is crap. Plz try telegram for god's sake if you don't use iMessage. Far better and it has a nice Windows App
Guess you never tried Textra on Android before. I prefer it over iMessage but that's just me. I wish Textra was on iOS.
Yep! I would say that around 80% of people here use whatsapp. Even people with iPhones don't even turn on iMessage. I prefer iMessage but it is what it is.
Never use WhatsApp if I'm honest don't see the point, iMessage does near on the same feels better as well, plus I can transfer of the iMac or iPad with a conversation.
I know a lot of people that use iMessage over WhatsApp, the only people I know who use WhatsApp are android users.