iMessage succeeds on Apply only because it is the DEFAULT SMS app which Apple took over and converted into a full blown Messenger solution. Highly unlikely this playbook will work out on Android.
A combination of awareness that TANSTAAFL and network effects - RIM sold plenty of BB hardware to people who just wanted access to BBM because that’s where all their friends were, so there’s precedent.
I think it’s pretty safe to assume that even if there were a paid option for FB, Insta, WhatsApp they would still do everything they could to monetise personal data, because that’s just the kind of company FB is, rapacious.
The majority at this point in time does not seem to care about privacy, but they do care about the price.
Also, what's the point of moving to just another walled garden? Apple will still keep the service proprietary and closed to third party clients, so you'll also lose the vocal software freedom folk in your approach.
Ahhh...those heady BBM days..BBM Pins and stuff. It's amazing how quickly everything changed for BB.
The parent's key point is going cross-platform to take market share from WhatsApp, not the exact funding model.
Sure it does: it isn’t sending all of my data to an advertising company.