Whatsapp goes down worldwide; can it stay on top in mobile messaging?
As of an hour ago, app messenger Whatsapp went down around the
world; at time of print, it had just started working again.
The outage comes at a bad time for Whatsapp, as rival BBM is on the
rise, seeing over 20 million downloads since the launch of its iOS and
Android apps two weeks ago. Although it still has only 80
million users compared to Whatsapp's 350 million, some argue
that BBM
could outdo Whatsapp, thanks to better security, a free app,
and voice and video services.
Whatsapp's global app rankings also recently took
a dip, possibly thanks not just to BBM's launch but also to its
launch of a new subscription paywall that goes into effect after a
year of use.
The chat app faces competition from China's WeChat, which announced in August
that it had
235 million active monthly users (compared to Whatsapp's
more than 200 million monthly active users as of this April), and
Japan's LINE, which
boasts 200 million users and is
prepping for an IPO soon. LINE, which is gaining traction in
the Arab world, offers VOIP and an activity timeline, which
Whatsapp doesn't.
Yet Whatsapp is still leading most of its other competitors,
especially in the Arab world. In Saudi Arabia, for example, while
BBM is currently ranked #1, Whatsapp is a close 2nd, Tango and Kik
at 6th and 7th, LINE at 12th, and WeChat and group chat Palringo at
16th and 18th, according to
App Annie.
What could help Whatsapp fend off BBM are its video messaging and
recently-launched voice messaging system, as well as its traction
in photo sharing. A week ago, Whatsapp revealed that users are
sharing 400 million photos daily, more
than SnapChat, Facebook, or Instagram.
Thanks to a substantial userbase on Nokia devices, Whatsapp may
stick to these simple features- photo, video, and voice messaging-
to continue its popularity with non-iOS and Android traffic, The
Next Web
argues.
Yet,
some argue that this won't be a good approach,
because keeping users loyal will increasingly necessitate adding
unique features and fun content (like games), or making chat
history more accessible and useful.
Yet since chat is an of-the-moment need, good, consistent
connectivity will be essential, especially in emerging markets.
Who's sticking with Whatsapp?