Mark Bridge writes:
Apple iMessage is going to kill SMS. And then, when it’s killed it, it’ll dance on its grave. Anticlockwise. Whilst mocking every mobile network in the world.
iMessage, in case you missed the iOS5 announcement, is a type of messaging service that’ll work over WiFi or 3G between any iPad, iPhone or iPod touch devices. You’ll be able to send text, photos, videos, contact details and location information. But is it really an SMS killer?
No. Of course it isn’t. And here’s why.
1. BlackBerry Messenger didn’t kill SMS. And we’ve had that for quite a while. (iMessage may not do BBM much good, but that’s another story).
2. Not everyone has an iOS device. Even if something similar is added to Android, there’s enough cross-platform traffic to keep SMS going.
3. TV talent shows, automatic bank updates and charity donations will still use SMS.
4. iMessages isn’t free. It uses 3G data when you’re not on WiFi. Not much, admittedly, but probably enough to make consumers nervous. Watch out for the first “iMessages roaming horror” story.
5. FaceTime hasn’t killed phone calls. Why should iMessage kill SMS?
5. SMS isn’t immortal. It’ll die anyway. Eventually.
Don’t get me wrong, iMessage has many benefits. But it’s no killer.