A riddle! What’s almost everywhere in the world, impossible to live without, used hundreds of times a day and free but hardly used in America. Or China. WhatsApp. In a strange paradox the most wealthy country in the world, America, is the lowest user of the most ubiquitous app. The reasons are fascinating but largely a function of free sms’ included in your cellphone contracts or bundles. Also the fact that Americans largely chat with other Americans and few travel outside their own country. It’s not as global as for example Europe is. In China the reason is wechat of course. Had all telcos in the world done this WhatsApp would have been unlikely to dominate as it did. A great lesson on defensive-strategy in the face of disruption.
In a strange paradox the most wealthy country in the world, America, is the lowest user of the most ubiquitous app. The reasons are fascinating but largely a function of free sms’ included in your cellphone contracts or bundles. Also the fact that Americans largely chat with other Americans and few travel outside their own country. It’s not as global as for example Europe is. In China the reason is wechat of course. Had all telcos in the world done this WhatsApp would have been unlikely to dominate as it did. A great lesson on defensive-strategy in the face of disruption.