WhatsApp voice calling has very small impact

[Kevin Lancaster]

WhatsApp voice calling impact very small

The impact of WhatsApp voice calling on mobile voice revenues has been much smaller than predicted.

 

[Ninja'd]

Maybe because it's crap.

 

[Segg]

Maybe because it's crap.

This!

The latency is atrocious! It reminds me of the days when calling someone in Sierra Leone, 2 second delays!

 

[i.got~issues]

Maybe because it's crap.

^^ This

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

This!

The latency is atrocious! It reminds me of the days when calling someone in Sierra Leone, 2 second delays!

Not just latency, it's still glitchy. You try calling someone, it rings on your end, but not on the recipient's end...

 

[Ockie]

Maybe if they implemented OPUS which was designed for low latency voice instead of some old tech codec the quality would have been better.

 

[Chris.Geerdts]

What's key is to see the shape of the uptake curve rather than the size

I launched video calling on 3G phones. Uptake was small and growth was small. It never took off.

However I launched mobile data products 15 years ago and the initial impact was minimal. I used to record penetration in units of 0.1%. However the growth was exponential and has remained so ever since.

There's also the initial problem with technical hurdles - maybe it's too early for takeoff. Disruptive influences happen much later than expected, but then more dramatically than expected

 

[Malasius]

maybe its because most people are calling via WiFi?

 

[Quey_Quick]

Its still too glitchy for now.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

I used to record penetration in units of 0.1%.

Your poor wife...

 

[Johnatan56]

maybe its because most people are calling via WiFi?

+1
I've actally called a good 4 hours on what's app in the last two weeks but over wifi.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

maybe its because most people are calling via WiFi?

That's not the issue, there's way too many bugs. Skype calls work just fine most of the time...

 

[PsYTraNc3]

Not just latency, it's still glitchy. You try calling someone, it rings on your end, but not on the recipient's end...

From what I've picked up, it does that when your or their connection is not good enough.

Still a crappy service though
Works more like a walkie talkie

 

[DTBA]

Same here can only use it over wifi.. because I don't ever have 3g signal

 

[LazyLion]

Maybe because it's crap.

Came here to say that. Even when you are both on 10Mbps lines it still breaks up.

 

[TheGuy]

The only time I've really called people on Whatsapp is by accident

 

[PsYTraNc3]

Came here to say that. Even when you are both on 10Mbps lines it still breaks up.

Tested it at my workplace with 100mbps which is used for connections to Norway and works flawlessly.
Still not good enough for whatsapp

 

[whatwhat]

Rather post what device you are using with the call.

IOS is very flaky since it has very limited ways of doing the call notifications. On Android it works pretty great.

 

[whatnot]

WhatsApp voice calling was rolled out in March and April 2015, and many people predicted that mobile voice revenues would plummet as users switched from traditional voice to WhatsApp calling. This has not happened.

It's still too early to call, as soon as our SP's 3G/LTE networks become more stable, and word of mouth spreads, whatsapp (and similar) calling will pick up.

I've had great call quality when I make whatsapp calls when in good 3G or wifi coverage.

 

[bokdrol]

Funny, my sister asked me yesterday if I have a "voice app" for whatsapp because we need to do some gossiping. I wasn't even aware of it and even if I was, I wouldn't know how to use it I reckon. Probably like many apps, not worth the frustration.