Originally Posted by
scalemaster34 250M (growing) iMessage users vs 60M (declining) BBM users
We should not over exaggerate iMessage by any means. It doesn't play a role how many user iMessage has; iMessage as a whole doesn't play ANY role. Just because it's an iPhone stock functionality that gets automatically activated through the SMS without people even recognizing it. No one will buy an iPhone for iMessage and no one will stick with his iPhone for iMessage, it's just there. iMessage is iPhone to iPhone only and as we all know, Apple has just 13% global market share, declining. So if there's ANY messaging service BBM has NOT to fear, it's iMessage. It isn't a seperate service, it isn't a separate app and it has barely any brand value. Each and every iPhone user here in Germany (and I think in many other countries too) has WhatsApp installed and
conciously uses it daily. In Germany WhatsApp has basically substituted the SMS somehow, at least for certain demographics. And even if it's iPhone to iPhone, people mostly use WhatsApp instead of iMessage, because it's easier to use one service for all contacts.
So the biggest challenge for BBM will be WhatsApp. At the end it will come down to if BBRY sees the potential behind BBM and uses it or not. I said it before and I say it again, voice and video chat with screen sharing as well as BBM channels are steps in the right direction. But even that won't be enough, BBM needs even more features. Imagine a combination of Channels, Vine, Instagram and, let's say, 9GAG, that's pretty, slick and super easy to use. And go even further and imagine the sign up process and adding/removing contacts would be as easy as on Twitter or Facebook. They really
could make BBM a killer service. What the heck do I need 5 individual services for that somehow do all something similar (having a profile/posting stuff/having connections and communicate with each other)?
Now the biggest problem (and unfortunately the most likely one) will be if BBRY just releases a BBM that doesn NOTHING more than any other app or even less, let's say a BBM without Channels, voice and video, without PTT, without proper photo sharing (pixelating compression and an extra step for HQ), without video sharing? Then you'll have a prettier WhatsApp with a more complex signup/contact adding process and worse photo and video share - GREAT. Sounds like a recipe for success. Then anyone who gives it a try will just instantly dismiss is and will never download it again, even if BBRY improves it. Honestly, if those guy will go on a stage and release a half baked cross plattform BBM like that, noting that features X and Y "will follow later this year" or something along those lines, I'll loose my mind.
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