WeChat App in China Described as Apple's 'Toughest Rival' as iPhone 8 Launch Nears

[MrX8503]

Apple makes plenty of money selling our data, either directly or by selling access to our data.

- Apple makes money off our data directly via iAds. Some say, oh but that's not that much. Well, it's not for lack of trying. They started out wanting a minimum million dollar buy in, they were so sure that we worth a lot to advertisers.

- Apple makes money indirectly off our data via embedded Google Search. It doesn't matter that Apple is not the one using the data, they're collecting billions a year in kickbacks from Google. Pimp or prostitute, it's still selling.

- Apple makes money fairly directly by selling banks access to our purchases in Apple Pay and taking a percentage of each purchase in exchange. They could've acted as a proxy like the original Google Wallet and hid our purchase info, but that info is way too valuable to banks, as Apple well knows.

Don't feel sorry for Apple. They make the biggest profit margin of anyone on smartphones, and yet STILL feel compelled to make more money off their customers by selling access to our action info.

That's insignificant compared to Google's revenue stream.

 

[kdarling]

That's insignificant compared to Google's revenue stream.

Or their own hardware revenue stream.

Doesn't matter. The point is it all shows that Apple does not put our privacy above revenue.

In fact, your comment makes it even worse; that they would sell out for comparatively little.

 

[MrX8503]

Or their own hardware revenue stream.

Doesn't matter. The point is it all shows that Apple does not put our privacy above revenue.

In fact, your comment makes it even worse; that they would sell out for comparatively little.

They care more about privacy than Google. No company is a perfect angel, but I sleep better at night that 99% of my hardware and services is with Apple over Google.

Google has done a fantastic job marketing their company as trustworthy, but I know deep down, they can't be trusted. They're the wolf in sheep's skin.

 

[willmtaylor]

Or their own hardware revenue stream.

Doesn't matter. The point is it all shows that Apple does not put our privacy above revenue.

In fact, your comment makes it even worse; that they would sell out for comparatively little.

You’re creating a false dichotomy. Much of their revenue is based upon protecting user privacy much more than others. Their business is predicated upon it, much like how Google’s business is predicated upon data mining anywhere and everywhere possible, as they’re an advertising agency masquerading as a tech outfit.

 

[nia820]

Apple should have made imessage multiplatform years ago. Now they've missed that opportunity. WhatsApp and Wechat have taken over.

 

[LovingTeddy]

Line - banned
WhatsApp - not officially banned but practically unusable
Others - non existent

What can one use except WeChat?
For the mobile payment part, without the approval by the Chinese government, how could Tencent launch a payment program and collect money from everyone in China? The success of the Chinese government to control the Internet both politically and economically is a textbook example of how things work differently than what most of us think.

Now China has the big data of how its citizens use the internet, how they spend money, how they play games, and all of the chat logs. I don't think there is any chance for this to change, it's too late.

You need some short of government approval and regulations for companies launching payment system. To me everyone who is processing payment and money transfer should consider as financial services entity and need be regulated by financial regulations. Otherwise criminals can use laundering money easily.

 

[johnsonkoh10]

You need some short of government approval and regulations for companies launching payment system. To me everyone who is processing payment and money transfer should consider as financial services entity and need be regulated by financial regulations. Otherwise criminals can use laundering money easily.

cannot agree more. I'm in the business of helping companies build their businesses on wechat through www.theasianir.com, and payment gateway is a requirement by these companies even though I know some are not really selling what they claim to be selling. therefore my company is a registered with the local monetary system here to report those who aren't.

 

[~Wonton~]

WeChat is a really good app, and it's not their problem that apple's income is lowering.