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Mobile providers had no incentive to let the instant messaging services on their network when they were charging 10 cents per SMS message.

• toast0 3y ago
  I'm pretty sure the major messengers all had integrations with at least US mobile providers. Because if you didn't have a messaging plan, you'd get charged 10 cents per message as it was delivered over SMS. IMHO, the reason a mobile first network was more compelling than a desktop first network is that people tend to have their phones on them, while their desktops tend to be at their desks. For better or worse, you can always reach me on my phone. Tencent developed QQ on desktop and then WeChat on mobile, but afaik, didn't bridge the two networks.
• Zak 3y ago
  The iPhone app store and consumer Android devices both launched in 2008. Mobile providers didn't have a say after that.
  • bozhark 3y ago
    AT&T’s iPhone monopoly?
    • Zak 3y ago
      AT&T did not get a say over what was available in the app store. ICQ, AIM, and Yahoo Messenger all had clients for iOS and Android.