@Bitrot Kinda like that. Most friends of mine don't even own an iPhone. Those who do, generally use Facebook Messenger to speak to each other. If anyone is not on Facebook, they are surely on WhatsApp, or they can be reached via the classical phone calls and SMS messages (but I've yet to meet someone who I need to use these with, as they are clearly inconvenient as hell). If there's a group chat, it is generally on WhatsApp.
I heard Telegram is popular as well in the post-soviet space. It is my fallback as well, and I'm not in one. Plenty of Romanian channels (news or organizations), and I speak with a couple of friends from there. I realize this is just "a different WhatsApp" from the POV of a centralized silo, but the features are great and I'd clearly trust Telegram more than Meta. @brisk
The government labeling something that Apple fans love as “not needing regulation” is purely a win for Apple. Imagine if 99% of text messages sent were via iMessage, and the EU kept the same ruling. That means that Apple has a functioning monopoly that is not considered a monopoly because there’s technically an alternative.
Did you just say Apple would try to prevent their users from switching to iMessage? Apple knows iMessage is a massive selling point for iPhones which is the reason Apple is so afraid of opening iMessage up to begin with.
Bu that's the point, it isn't a selling point in europe. People here mainly use WhatsApp. As a european iPhone user with a lot of other iPhone users in my social circle I pretty much never get an iMessage. I got one two weeks ago, but before that my last iMessage was in 2018. I've never heard anyone here talk about blue vs green bubbles and never heard iMessage mentioned in an Android vs iOS discussion.
It is a major point of social pressure. People get legitimately upset when they start a group chat and realize one of the members doesn’t have an iPhone. That absolutely makes it valuable to Apple
I agree it’s a minor irritation by most standards, but when all that’s on the line is making jokes about someone based on their choice of phone there’s no reason not to pressure someone else.
As to sources, I see it happen all the time. I used to be the one who upset people, then I bought an iPhone and almost everyone I texted got really excited to see the color of our chat change. I’ve also seen countless memes about green chat bubbles and people ruining group chats because of their Androids. I’m not sure you’re going to get much more reliable sources than anecdotal ones for something like this.
Okay, I’ve been using an iPhone for over a decade at this point. I’ve seen the memes online and stuff but I have never met a real person who gives a shit? I’ve seen social pressures to sign up for Discord, Telegram & Signal so someone can be added to a group chat. I don’t know anyone that wants to group text message though, it never comes up. That’s kind of the thing with iMessage, to make it “simple” and “just works” Apple made it an extension of texting. But no one texts anymore. It’s basically just wifi calling for text messages but locked to one type of phone. I see this supposed iPhone user talked about all the time but I’ve never once cared about the colour of the bubble or any of this stuff?
Okay, I don’t think I was trying to convince anyone. I’m not on Apple’s side here, but I don’t see how less governmental regulation could possibly be worse for Apple.
Believe me, I am for more regulation directed at Apple. I am just saying I’m not seeing evidence that people are buying iPhones for iMessage in any appreciable number.
Well, if you don't know that, it means that either, you are not a US citizen, which we ruled out, ooooor.... oooh, I hate to break it to you but... you have lost touch with "the youngsters" as they say. You are old.
that aside, one of the connections I have to the US has kids and her kids actually experienced some isolation because the kids only had "cheap android" and thus couldn't use iMessages which was what all the other kids pointedly used because teenagers are suckers for made up common identity bullshit. It was that one specific brand of baggies when I was young, now iit seems to be iPhones in some places.
@skullgiver For Apple, the US I think is their main market. Here is still that thing that you need to be rich enough to afford, so this is why iMessage is not such a great thing.
I think that by staying below the EU radar they get to keep their walls for the US users, where regulations are more lax and don't pose any risk for their business model.
Imagine if 99% of text messages sent were via iMessage, and the EU kept the same ruling.
If 99% of messages were sent via iMessage the ruling would have been different. if it ever fulfils the criteria needed to be considered gatekeepers, then they will be designed as such.
Apple would rather a hit to their ego than a legal restriction anywhere. A little marketing can fix the former, but the latter can be permanent and fatal.