WhatsApp, the world’s most popular messaging service, is owned by Facebook, allows users to send text messages, voice calls, recorded voice messages, video calls, pictures, documents, and user location. Over 1 billion users in more than 180 countries, it leaves any competitor behind. And a lot of people who recognize the superior quality of Telegram, especially privacy, are still using WhatsApp. Why does it happen?
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Why is WhatsApp more popular than Telegram?
What made it so popular and why it is still the most used in the world? Most people think of WhatsApp as the first instant messaging application to be installed on their new smartphone.
WhatsApp arrived first
When WhatsApp was released in 2009, it was a pioneer. At that time, there was Skype, which stood out for its voice and video calls, but Skype was for the PC, and made a late entry into the world of mobile devices. WhatsApp was so used for messages as Skype was used for calls. While other mobile messaging applications such as Viber and Kik were launched soon after, WhatsApp remained the absolute leader.
At that time, WhatsApp was not just a messaging application. WhatsApp has hit the market with a new communication model. Instead of being perceived as an alternative to Skype, it became a new way to send text messages, and people used it as a complement to Skype in their communications.
WhatsApp Killed SMS
When WhatsApp was launched, people complained about the costs of an SMS. WhatsApp solved this problem, and with it, people were able to send messages to other WhatsApp users without words, without being deprived of multimedia content, and totally free.
<h3″>WhatsApp uses your number.
WhatsApp took a step beyond Skype in a certain direction, to identify users on the network. It identifies people through their phone numbers. No need to ask for a username. If you have someone’s phone number in your contacts, that means they’re already in your WhatsApp contacts if they use the app.
In WhatsApp, anyone who has your number has your contact on the network, and you can not choose to stay offline. You also can not hide behind a false identity.
WhatsApp works on most platforms
WhatsApp started on Android and iOS smartphones and, with the explosion of tablets, made a seamless transition to Android and iOS tablets.
WhatsApp has expanded its user base to include Windows Phones, Nokia and other devices, as well as the web. The application has synced all support devices and quickly accumulated millions of users.
WhatsApp Status
There is something Whatsapp has that Telegram does not have: Whatsapp status is seen only by your contacts, not the world. Thus, Whatsapp seems a more likely tool to get along with social circles.
Telegram, on the other hand, is a serious business tool. But by social function, Whatsapp is in the lead.
User interface
Whatsapp’s interface is much more organized than Telegram’s, and perhaps the lack of organization can drive some people off the platform. For example, there is an option in WhatsApp to archive chat, and this helps a lot to organize your conversations.
Expanded feature set
WhatsApp features were new in 2009. It appealed to users with features that included group chat and the ability to send pictures and other multimedia elements along with messages.
Over time, as competition increased, WhatsApp added its free calling feature and became a giant of digital communication. Soon, WhatsApp added the features of video calls and voice messages.
Mobility
WhatsApp was made for mobile devices, not for computers. So it had the advantage of not having to adapt to the mobile environment, like its competitors, who were native to PC.
It came at a time when there was a boom in the adoption of mobile devices, an unprecedented change, where people left the computer to use Tablet and smartphones. In addition, 2G and 3G data were becoming more affordable and cheaper in many places.
No ads (yet)
Everyone knows how ads can be annoying. WhatsApp does not impose ads on its users. At least that has not happened yet.
We’re talking “still” because there are plans for Facebook, which owns WhatsApp, to enter ads shortly on the platform.
Snowball Effect
WhatsApp was released at a time when people needed what it had to offer. The truth is that he came on time, and everyone adopted him. After people get accustomed to this app, it’s hard to abandon it to use another platform, like Telegram.
Yes, Telegram is growing a lot in your country especially after security problems and WhatsApp crashes. But it is still much smaller.
The difficulty in migrating from WhatsApp to Telegram is mainly due to the fact that many of our contacts are only in WhatsApp. The fact is that the snowball effect is the most important factor in WhatsApp success.
Since communications between WhatsApp users are free, using an application with a large user base is advantageous, and on Telegram, we do not find the WhatsApp user base, which for many are family, business contacts, and distant friends.
It’s you, do you agree WhatsApp wins the Telegram for the snowball effect? Leave your opinion in the comments!