Other how popular is iMessage in your home country?

[macher]

When we go to France to visit my wife’s family, I don’t know anyone who doesn’t use WhatsApp even people with iPhones. I have never seen anyone use iMessage there. All her family have iPhones and I found it odd that no one uses iMessage. Here in the USA it’s total opposite.

 

[saber32au]

WhatsApp just seems to be the standard here now and is in much of the rest of Europe.

Yep, it very much is! I’ve been fortunate enough to live in a few countries; WhatsApp’s is dominate in Europe, Middle East, and several African countries.

I quite like using WhatsApp (in preference to iMessage) for the reasons previously covered in this thread, though wonder if it’ll continue to be popular given FB’s data collection policies…

 

[circatee]

Not sure if I previously mentioned it here. But, I have since deleted WhatsApp. Not a fan of anything related to Facebook. However, ‘friends’ had often pressed me to have and use WhatsApp.

Honestly, I just don’t get it. If I really need to contact me, send an iMessage, Text, Email or just phone me…

 

[azhava]

USA here. I used SMS/MMS for years before iMessage was ever even a thing, so it was natural to keep using the same app. I've never even had WhatsApp, FB Messenger, or any of the other messaging apps installed on my iPhones, and nobody I know uses any of them as their main messaging platform. Everybody I communicate with uses iMessage, or MMS if they're on Android phones. We can send text, photos, videos, web links, have group chats, etc. over the standard Messages app, and I couldn't care less what color somebody's bubble is or whether I can have different backgrounds/wallpapers.

 

[circatee]

USA here. I used SMS/MMS for years before iMessage was ever even a thing, so it was natural to keep using the same app. I've never even had WhatsApp, FB Messenger, or any of the other messaging apps installed on my iPhones, and nobody I know uses any of them as their main messaging platform. Everybody I communicate with uses iMessage, or MMS if they're on Android phones. We can send text, photos, videos, web links, have group chats, etc. over the standard Messages app, and I couldn't care less what color somebody's bubble is or whether I can have different backgrounds/wallpapers.

There is a strong possibility, if I did not have a handful of international friends, I would not use iMessage. My mentality is to not impact them financially to converse with me.

 

[BigDO]

Everyone uses WhatsApp. No one uses iMessage.

I think that the fact iMessage is “mixed” with the SMS spam works against it everywhere other than the US for some reason.

 

[Fatus_Asticus]

Facebook can kiss my ass and as such WhatsApp will never grace my device. I'll pass on digital cancer thank you very much.

 

[rocketbuc]

Still amazed that not more people are moving away from WhatsApp given the impact on personal privacy. My wife and I hold up against the occasional push from our friends to install WhatsApp here in Switzerland. Sticking to iMessages and Threema (a Swiss app similar to Signal and Telegram).

Biggest advantage is how iMessage seamlessly syncs across Macbook, iPad, and iPhone. When at home or in the office, I almost never type on messages on my phone.

 

[kToni73]

Still amazed that not more people are moving away from WhatsApp given the impact on personal privacy. My wife and I hold up against the occasional push from our friends to install WhatsApp here in Switzerland. Sticking to iMessages and Threema (a Swiss app similar to Signal and Telegram).

Biggest advantage is how iMessage seamlessly syncs across Macbook, iPad, and iPhone. When at home or in the office, I almost never type on messages on my phone.

Same. But on the other hand majority of people are just too lazy to change to another platform. I also use Telegram just for my Family Chat, and it syncs great, just like iMessage. And while it ain't the most secure to use, it surely is fast & allows a lot of media inputs (Emojis, Stickers, GIFs).

Apple on one hand keeps their software on their hardware. But there is already Apple Music available on Androids. I don't see why wouldn't iMessage also be available for cross-platform. Maybe in the future? But I assume this is not their main focus now.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Still amazed that not more people are moving away from WhatsApp given the impact on personal privacy. My wife and I hold up against the occasional push from our friends to install WhatsApp here in Switzerland. Sticking to iMessages and Threema (a Swiss app similar to Signal and Telegram).

Biggest advantage is how iMessage seamlessly syncs across Macbook, iPad, and iPhone. When at home or in the office, I almost never type on messages on my phone.

WhatsApp is so mainstream, it’s difficult to force everybody to start using something else. Not too worried about my privacy as I don’t share my bank details, pictures of my private parts, or security question answers. It’s mainly group chats with TikTok videos, memes, micky taking of friends and boring chats really. If an algorithmic force in China wants that data then they are welcome to it lol.

 

[BigDO]

Still amazed that not more people are moving away from WhatsApp given the impact on personal privacy. My wife and I hold up against the occasional push from our friends to install WhatsApp here in Switzerland. Sticking to iMessages and Threema (a Swiss app similar to Signal and Telegram).

Biggest advantage is how iMessage seamlessly syncs across Macbook, iPad, and iPhone. When at home or in the office, I almost never type on messages on my phone.

Me too. Especially since one of the reasons why I keep using it is that it’s a de facto starboard for IM at work, despite numerous cybersec policies in place.

 

[circatee]

Biggest advantage is how iMessage seamlessly syncs across MacBook, iPad, and iPhone. When at home or in the office, I almost never type on messages on my phone.

Spot on!

I actually initially wanted to learn Mac OS, and purchased a Mac, to do so. During the course of learning Mac OS, I started to communicate so much more over iMessage, without having to pick up my phone. And, I would tend to send more of a conversation, if typing from my Mac device. So, yes, I am sold.

Currently, rolling with an iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPad Pro (for the living room) and Mac Mini M1 for day to day things. However, starting January, I would like to use it for 'work', too. Thus, giving my Windows 10 PC (gaming rig) a break...

 

[Rashy]

A mixture of Whatsapp, Telegram and 'secure' messengers like Threema or Signal, here in Germany. Business related communication goes via MS Teams.

iMessage is not cross-platform, has less features and its GUI looks really ugly compared to Tele/WA. I am quite annoyed every time when Craig Federighi introduces new 'amazing' features for iMessages or Facetime (remember that poop animoji?) rather than focus on real-world productivity improvements which would benefit everyone around the world, not just spoiled US kids.

 

[FlyingDutch]

Unfortunately here in Europe the standard app is WhatsApp, even if it is the worst.
telegram and iMessage are far better, but if you want to stay connected to everyone, you have to use WhatsApp.

 

[doolar]

I know this topic has been beaten to death but I'm amazed how iMessage can be so popular in North America and Australia and yet be non existent in Europe.

How did the divide happen?

I don’t recognise this at all being a Swede. It’s quite rare to see green bubbles these days. I have one employee who chose an Android phone, everybody else are on iPhones. Most clients have iPhones, my son and his buddies, it goes on. Sure, a lot of people use WhatsApp too, but I’ve never heard of anybody actively not using iMessage, turning it off on their iPhone. Most people don’t know or care, they just use what’s on their phone.

 

[doolar]

Not sure if I previously mentioned it here. But, I have since deleted WhatsApp. Not a fan of anything related to Facebook. However, ‘friends’ had often pressed me to have and use WhatsApp.

Honestly, I just don’t get it. If I really need to contact me, send an iMessage, Text, Email or just phone me…

Same here, I quit WhatsApp a while ago after using it from day one on my iPhone (3G or 3GS?). I’ve never been easier too reach, so if someone “needs” me on this or that platform, it’s their problem, not mine. 😊

 

[MiamiBeach]

American currently living in Europe and I have an iPhone so iMessage and WhatsApp are both on my phone. Just checked each one and, sure enough as most on this thread have said, iMessage has all my conversations with my friends back in the US and WhatsApp has all my conversations with my friends in Europe.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

The problem I find with iMessage is the group messaging is awful unless everyone is on iPhone. A few of my friends have moved away from iPhone and sending videos and photos through iMessage within groups is costly if the recipients are not using iPhones. WhatsApp is the mainstream messaging service here in Europe due to the convenience of being cross platform. If something came along and was adopted by the masses then I’d have no problem using something else. Pretty much everybody uses WhatsApp though

 

[brianseb1989]

What really sucks about iMessage

Doesn't give you the option to unsend a message and if you delete a message you can't restore it back.

I think in the really near future it's time for Apple give you the option to unsend messages and restore back deleted messages if you delete by accidented.

 

[kToni73]

What really sucks about iMessage

Doesn't give you the option to unsend a message and if you delete a message you can't restore it back.

I think in the really near future it's time for Apple give you the option to unsend messages and restore back deleted messages if you delete by accidented.

That is definitely a Con. However, it makes you think twice before sending something ?

 

[kaardowiq]

I've been in German for 20 months, and most of the people I know have iPhones, but everyone prefers WhatsApp. Not really sure why. I always fancied America and Americans using iMessage over everything, and hoping that more people start to use it here.

Thanks, that’s unfortunately the truth. You can text them via iMessage and they won’t look at this messages cause notification got turned off or write you back via WhatsApp. Most Germans use WhatsApp for everything, call, text and video chat and do not use regular services anymore for private communications.

At least, I got my friends to text me via iMessage with deleting WhatsApp. That was the point where they had to write iMessage and found out that reactions,group chats and FaceTime are pretty cool.

I think WhatsApp isn’t bad at all, but I’m missing a proper texting solution for iPad. Maybe in the future…

 

[BigDO]

Thanks, that’s unfortunately the truth. You can text them via iMessage and they won’t look at this messages cause notification got turned off or write you back via WhatsApp. Most Germans use WhatsApp for everything, call, text and video chat and do not use regular services anymore for private communications.

At least, I got my friends to text me via iMessage with deleting WhatsApp. That was the point where they had to write iMessage and found out that reactions,group chats and FaceTime are pretty cool.

I think WhatsApp isn’t bad at all, but I’m missing a proper texting solution for iPad. Maybe in the future…

Apart from Facebook ownership and the implications of that, WhatsApp runs circles around the positively archaic iMessage in terms of UI, features and quality of service.

 

[kaardowiq]

Apart from Facebook ownership and the implications of that, WhatsApp runs circles around the positively archaic iMessage in terms of UI, features and quality of service.

I don’t share this opinion…
WA is only running on one device, the current multi device beta is a joke, no possible solution for tablets, yet. The UI looks like from 2010, especially on Android. I don‘t like WA, would prefer Telegram…

 

[martin2345uk]

Considering WhatsApp is from the same people as Messenger, it's so lacking in customisation in comparison... with Messenger you can totally change the theme of individual chats but on WA you can just change the wallpaper, the chat bubbles stay very boring white and ugly pale green.

Of course, that's still more customisation than iMessage allows!

 

[PhillyGuy72]

For me in the US, it's 100% iMessage for me. Either replying from my phone or my iMac (messages come through both). I never used WhatsApp.

I have a few friends that try to use Facebook Messenger with me - send me invites. Um, no...that's not going to happen, I don't even have that FB app on my phone!