How are these mobile messaging services supposed to save us from SMS when there are so many of them and everyone is on a different one? Seriously, until sending someone a message via one of these apps is as easy and mindless as sending an SMS, none of them stand a chance. Samsung’s new ChatON messaging service, at least, is cross platform (you see that looking I’m giving you iMessage and BBM?). It works with iOS, Android, BlackBerry, and, of course, Samsung’s Bada OS. Wait, is there someone out there actually using Bada? I feel like that’s like me saying, “Don’t worry guys, this app will run on the latest version of Gingerbrent.”
How does ChatON differentiate itself from the others? It really kinda doesn’t. The biggest differentiation is that you can attach a little animated greeting card to your message (see video). Seriously? The only person I can think of who would like that is my grandmother and she, A) doesn’t have a smartphone, and B) isn’t alive.
Really, I just don’t understand why Samsung thinks that we need another app like this, or why they’re the ones to do it. We already have so many competing standards in this arena, and if the likes of Facebook, Google, or GroupMe (now owned by Skype) can’t do it, I don’t know why Samsung thinks they can. Plus, Samsung’s mobile software isn’t very good. They have the distinction of making the one music player that is actually worse than Android’s native music player. Sammy, please focus on making awesome phones and don’t foist this crapware upon us.
Expect this service to launch next month. Expect nobody to care right now. [Engadget and XKCD]
Johnny P
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 7:27 AMApple will market iMessage as the best thing since sliced bread. It should be called android chat so it creates a united front against apple
Joshie
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 7:53 AMTotally agree with the fact that messaging apps tied to only a single mobile have no hope whatsoever. Most people I know use Whatsapp which is a decent cross-platform.
I think a it will be killer if facebook decided to upgrade its fb chat so that it gets push notifications on phones. I think that will be more than enough for most users.
Jeremy
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 7:57 AMI know iMessage detects whether the contact you’re sending to has iMessage and if not sends the message via SMS. How many of these others do that? I think that is the only winning factor, detect if the contact uses the service and if not back it up with SMS.
Twi
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 9:46 AMAgreeing with Joshie – Whatsapp is the one most people I know use, due to its simplicity and availability on all smart phones. I have no need for anything more complicated.
Josh
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 10:31 AMWhatsapp is free on all platforms but ios.. people aren’t subscribing because half have to pay and half don’t.