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Comment by wdb | Hacker News Reader

I only use the Messages app to get MFA codes for different applications. Don't they use something like Whatsapp in the US? I think it mostly a non-issue in Europe

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This is a recurring type of comment. Some people use primarily WhatsApp or FB messenger. Other people's entire social network is on iMessage. Neither talk to users of Signal. And there are also separate groups of people who think everyone is on Telegram or WeChat.

Clearly there are network effects, and which app wins is varies between regions and groups.

[I'm an American] I've heard that the reason WhatsApp became so popular in Europe is because European cellphone services used to (still do?) charge for texts per message whereas in the US it quickly became commonplace for all service providers to include "unlimited texting" plans. From my perspective, I never felt the need to download any additional app for messaging - the default messaging app was always the go-to way to text people before smart phones, and then when the iPhone came out that just continued with iMessage as the new default messaging app.

If you text messaging is free. Does that include MMS? I am not sure why it a blue or green bubble is a big problem? You would still be able to send messages or media content?

The only difference I can see is the lack of end-to-end encryption and reactions (e.g. like a message)?

I'm from the US. While there are certainly people that use it, I don't personally know anyone that uses Whatsapp, Signal, Telegram, etc... as their primary method of text communication. Nearly everyone I personally know uses iMessage or SMS, with a smaller subset using Facebook messenger.

No. iPhones are dominant enough in the US that most people communicate over iMessage, or SMS if you're the one guy stuck on Android.

This is the reason I haven't switched to Android—so it has worked on me at least.

iOS and Android are neck and neck in the US. There was a report about iOS passing Android just days ago, so they have similar market share. I can readily believe that at certain workplaces, almost everyone has an iPhone, but this isn't true generally.

I'm still seeing 60-40 in a quick Google search? https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/mobile/united-sta...

I'm sure it does depend on your community too, e.g. iPhones are more common among members of the upper-middle class. (Which is why iPhone use is well above 60% in my social circle.)

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