Is WhatsApp the SMS-killer?

Whatsapp, BBM etc are slowly dying. These are effectively closed networks. If anyone asks me, I suggest a gmail account with a gtalk client. XMPP is the way forward! Even MXit has interfaces for gtalk/MSN etc. Closed networks suck!
 
rbarryza said:
Why is WhatsApp getting so much coverage? It's no different from any other IM app on your phone, including Mixit, Fring, Google Talk, etc. It's not new, what's the big deal? Or am I missing something?
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I've used all of those, I actively use google talk, and msn.. Mxit is crap.. but nothing beats whatsapp, the fact it automatically detects who is using it on your contact list, and adds new users as you go along, makes it the only alternative to sms.

MXits days are over for anyone who owns a smartphone and isnt a paedophile
 
The one drawback to WhatsApp is that not everyone is using it
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.... is why this will only appeal to some, in my office/team of 18 or so people I could send a message to 1 person so hardly any use. I doubt many others I know are that different, maybe to more tech savvy people yes, otherwise will stick to SMS for now.
 
Vince0 said:
Whatsapp, BBM etc are slowly dying. These are effectively closed networks. If anyone asks me, I suggest a gmail account with a gtalk client. XMPP is the way forward! Even MXit has interfaces for gtalk/MSN etc. Closed networks suck!
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You couldn't be more wrong..
I have 5 ACTIVE contacts on Gtalk and over 50 active contacts on whatsapp, with new people joining every day and im sure that applies to most people
 
WhatsApp and Iphones Viber use them all the time on my Iphone. GF lives in Northern Ireland and sms fees were killing me. Viber has saved us a fortune, use it for constant chat via message and for phone calls. Takes a while to connect, but most times when I am through its better reception than a bloody land line from big T.
 
i use what's app all day every day. good way to keep my girlfriends entertained
 
Vince0 said:
Whatsapp, BBM etc are slowly dying. These are effectively closed networks. If anyone asks me, I suggest a gmail account with a gtalk client. XMPP is the way forward! Even MXit has interfaces for gtalk/MSN etc. Closed networks suck!
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You're wrong.
They are not even similar applications. GTalk is a traditional IM application. It requires usernames, adding contacts/friends, being connected/signed in for it to work, etc
WhatsApp is exactly like SMS. It just automatically works by using your phone number and address book.
You dont need to have it running to receive messages. They come through like an SMS even when WhatsApp has been closed.
Whoever to are messaging doesn't need to be running whats app for them to receive messages. If their phone is off or doesn't have signal, they will recieve the message as soon as their phone turns on. Just like SMS
 
I use Whatsapp on my BB because the missus has an iPhone 4 so what's a better way to keep intouch when u on the road, inexpensively, Whatsapp of course.
 
I think the main reasons why whatsapp is better or taken off more than all other instant messaging (mxit,gtalk etc) are
1) application runs in the background and it is impossible to shut down. (all others one can in error or intentionally shut down.)
2) if the application is running in the background messages come up and make a sound like an sms so it is difficult to ignore.
3) the application on nokia is able to switch seamlessly between wifi and grps/3g. (wish some other nokia applications could do this)
4) one is able to detect (by seeing 2 ticks next to the message) that the message has been delivered.
 
Well I think it is possible, I use bbm and whatsapp.

And I am so used to sending one word answers I don't even think twice about it. When I do get smses and reply, its also one word answers... Shooting myself in the foot :p

But definitely I barely sms anyone anymore. Between mxit, whatsapp and bbm I don't need to.
 
WhatsApp is great. I have been using WhatsApp and it's cut my SMS costs right down as my parents also use it. They'll never switch to BB as they're both loyal Nokia users and they will struggle with using a BB.
 
entrepr said:
Why the focus on whatsapp? Why does it get a mention relative to any other app. Mxit has been around for ever, bbm is really pumping and even MTN and Vodacom launched their own im platforms.

None of these will really take off until 1) the apps can talk to each other and you can send messages across platforms and 2) you can know with reasonable certain that the person receiving the message will get it and almost immediately and 3) uses phone numbers and not handles (as this one does, adimittedly).
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1) It does this
2) It has 2 status indicators, one so show you it's sent and 2nd to show you the user received is
3) uses phone no. not handles.

Whatsapp is nothing like MIXIT, it does not run only when you open it's it's always active and runs in the background and you don't have to logon, in comparison it exactly like SMS but instead of using the carries SMS network and being charge 50C per SMS it uses the data network. I have tested this for the past 6 months and in comparison I can send 50 msg from Whatsapp for the same cost as 1 SMS that include receiving msg's.

It's in direct competition with BBM only thing its not restricted to BlackBerry, and as there is more take on more platforms will become available.

Simple it's Brilliant.
 
WhatsApp is great, everyone on my contacts has it and they are automatically added.

As for battery issues, turn of 3G and let it run on GPRS. Not much battery difference then.
 
entrepr said:
Why the focus on whatsapp? Why does it get a mention relative to any other app. Mxit has been around for ever, bbm is really pumping and even MTN and Vodacom launched their own im platforms.
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  • Well, it's easy to install, easy to use, and can be used across all networks and on most operating platforms. Is there any other app right now that can boast with these credentials?
  • Also, it's always on - you don't have to log into it, unlike with other IM apps.
  • It automatically adds your contacts who is also on WhatsApp; is there any other IM app that can do this?

entrepr said:
None of these will really take off until 1) the apps can talk to each other and you can send messages across platforms and 2) you can know with reaonable certain that the person receiving the message will get it and almost immediately and 3) uses phone numbers and not handles (as this one does, adimittedly).

Any 'community' group that uses a current solution will save a lot of money because it is a couple of people who know each other, are on the same platform and send each other a lot of messages. However these communities will come and go and won't be either sustainable in the long term or grow to nearly the extent SMS has
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Actually, it has taken off already. Plus, with smartphones becoming cheaper and more within reach of the general population, the use of it can only increase.

Since it automatically adds your contacts, I don't see the 'community' that you're referring to because, unlike Mxit - who has a pretty closed community - the user group expands automatically and is way more open that any other IM app community. This makes it way sustainable for long-term growth, growth which could even outstrip the use of sms I dare say.
 
warlock said:
1) It does this
2) It has 2 status indicators, one so show you it's sent and 2nd to show you the user received is
3) uses phone no. not handles.

Whatsapp is nothing like MIXIT, it does not run only when you open it's it's always active and runs in the background and you don't have to logon, in comparison it exactly like SMS but instead of using the carries SMS network and being charge 50C per SMS it uses the data network. I have tested this for the past 6 months and in comparison I can send 50 msg from Whatsapp for the same cost as 1 SMS that include receiving msg's.

It's in direct competition with BBM only thing its not restricted to BlackBerry, and as there is more take on more platforms will become available.

Simple it's Brilliant.
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Agreed, I have a BB, but not everyone does. I love Whatsapp for the following reasons:
-It is so simple, even my mother and my wife now use it full-time
-It is cross-platform, whatsapp really started working since the Nokia app was released.
-Groupchat - works like a dream
-No adding of contacts, usernames, passwords, profiles, etc, etc. If someone is important enough to be in your phonebook, they will appear in Whatsapp.
-Saves me about R100.00 per month, most of that on my wife's phonebill, which I pay. The data cost for last month was R9.00. I will gladly pay the $1.99 per year subscription.
 
Vince0 said:
Whatsapp, BBM etc are slowly dying. These are effectively closed networks. If anyone asks me, I suggest a gmail account with a gtalk client. XMPP is the way forward! Even MXit has interfaces for gtalk/MSN etc. Closed networks suck!
Click to expand...

WhatsApp dying? Closed network?

Go do your homework buddy. I chat to contacts on foreign networks; that's how open WhatsApp is - can connect to any of your contacts, even those in other countries.

And, as I've said in my previous post, you don't have to log in to it - always on rocks !!!
 
another messenger...another account i now have to have to communicate. gtalk, msn, skype, bbm <- these all do the same thing and bar bbm they are all free, why do we now need another one????

please people, use your brains and just use one of the existing ones. Android phones come gtalk standard, blackberrys can get gtalk, skype is free and you can phone people on their computers (wow can you imagine!!). We all already have accounts for these apps, why must we now get another one??!! Urgh, the stupidity of it frustrates me..
 
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