The advent and future of free msging apps on the Mobile
Whatsapp has definitely reduced my mobile bill considerably. International msging is free now! The cross platform compatibility of Whatsapp across iOS, Android, RIM’s Blackberry and now even on Nokia’s Symbian platform has made it a must have on almost all phones.
The only problem with this is that soon the operators are going to realise this. As apps like Whatsapp figure out and extend compatibility and support to more and more handsets and platforms, the ARPU of operator’s is going to be hit. Currently operators don’t mind earning via data. But there will be a tipping point and a year down the line I can imagine Vodafone and Airtel simply blocking and black-listing apps like Whatsapp, Kik etc. Blackberry has already banned KIK from its store, because its seeing BBM usage being affected. In fact Blackberry is even planning to make the BBM available on iPhones and Android phones.
This is where Beluga will thrive! Beluga was recently acquired by Facebook and is very similar to what Whatsapp does. With Facebook owning it now, a simple Facebook Connect option links you up with all your friends who are active on Beluga. As soon as Beluga’s servers are shifted to Facebook servers, operators will find it impossible to block this.
Why?
Well Facebook has primarily become the internet now. Every handset manufacturer now advertises Facebook’s availability on a phone (even sub-INR 3000 phones). Aircel and now Vodafone have an even deeper integration with Facebook by actually integrating API’s to update and like stuff via voice and IVR.
With this happening, no operator in India will want to or risk messing with Facebook. If Airtel blocks Facebook or a Facebook application tomorrow, I can guarantee you that a lot more people will start exercising their MNP options. With Facebook almost becoming the primary source of data consumption…you won’t dream of messing with it.
Apps like Whatsapp already allow you to send voice recordings and video clippings. A couple of years down the line, SMS’ing will be a thing of the past!
