iMessage, the beginng of the end of SMS bundles?

naasrd

Just wondering what the introduction of iMessage will mean for service providers who include text bundles as part of an iPhone contact. Is this a game changer as to how they'll have to do business in the future? Will that future be more data bundle lead than minutes/texts offers?

chrislad

Eventually, but iMessage only works if everyone has an iPhone. It's not free messages to non-iPhones and regardless how popular it is, it's still an expensive phone that is outside some persons price range and some persons wants/needs. For some, a basic 20e Samsung E1150 does the job.

naasrd

Agreed, but my point is that VF,02,3 etc aren't interested in the basic 20e Samsung E115 user. I'm thinking more of who they are going to pitch future monthly billpay iPhone packages at and how.

cookie1977

naasrd wrote: »

Agreed, but my point is that VF,02,3 etc aren't interested in the basic 20e Samsung E115 user. I'm thinking more of who they are going to pitch future monthly billpay iPhone packages at and how.

I think the networks are going to focus more and more on monatising data. You'll eventually see plans with inclusive data allowances shrink and the networks sell you data packs. You can see it with O2 already where once they offered 3GB, 2GB, 1GB on their base advance plans, they now only offer 250mbs. Vodafone are much the same. Only three are bucking the trend at the moment and long may it last.

DjFlin

Whos to say Irish Carriers wont charge for iMessage. It relies on data, so you may still be charged. Remember that if you buy an iPad in the states, you get 250MB free data per month. You get nothing of the sort here.

naasrd

cookie1977 wrote: »

I think the networks are going to focus more and more on monatising data. You'll eventually see plans with inclusive data allowances shrink and the networks sell you data packs. You can see it with O2 already where once they offered 3GB, 2GB, 1GB on their base advance plans, they now only offer 250mbs. Vodafone are much the same. Only three are bucking the trend at the moment and long may it last.

I think so, and with WiLD (Wifi Long Distance) becoming more and more of a reality I reckon the whole industry is heading for a shake up. Especially if you'll be able to pick uo you home wifi up to 60 miles away as some reports are suggesting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-range_Wi-Fi

www.cultofmac.com/thanks-to-super-wifi-your-next-macbook-or-ipad-might-be-able-to-connect-to-your-home-wifi-up-to-60-miles-away/106564

Owen

It's happening in the States too, a lot of the carriers there have reduced their bundled/unlimited data plans. The networks are becoming greedy, and the likes of Viber, What'sApp, and HeyTell are killing their business model.

dingding

Also there are apps that you can use to access your web texts such as Jelly SMS. Or buy cheaper texts from someone else.

Face time would have done the same for phone calls as iMessage.

Creamy Goodness

facetime is a totally different scenario, not everyone wants to see who they are talking to. it's just awkward 90% of the time.

dingding

I suppose you have skype if you don't want to look at the other person / let them see you. Also Vtok which uses gmail chat.

chrislad

DjFlin wrote: »

Whos to say Irish Carriers wont charge for iMessage. It relies on data, so you may still be charged. Remember that if you buy an iPad in the states, you get 250MB free data per month. You get nothing of the sort here.

Not quite. Data is way more expensive over there. I've never heard of getting 250Mb a month free either. Going by these prices, it seems doubtful!

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/specials/netbooks.jsp

15$ for 100mb for one day? Meteor do €2.99 for 500MB for one day. It's nearly 70% cheaper for 500% more! The month pass with Meteor is €19.99 for 7.5gb vs $50 for 1gb!!!

3, O2 and Vodafone all offer similar plans/prices to Meteor too. The US gets shafted in terms of data pricing. I've sold data sims to tons of US tourists who can't believe how cheap it is.

Linoge

I can see Apple going the same way with voice calls - integrating VOIP into their native phone app. They already have it with Facetime so not even a big step really. Its only a matter of phasing, timing and sneaking it all in. Nobody wants to be the network without the iPhone, but what happens when its no longer profitable for a network to keep it on their network. No doubt it is the end for minutes and texts.

eeloe

Eventually it'll all be based online, imessages,bbm or what ever is your vice.

I can see that within two years when the networks have steadier set ups in Ireland, VoIP calls will take over from gsm calls.

Meteor have a fine data allowance with any of their packages, and they are the fastest network by far.