[flemhans]

An open Linux-based phone that could spawn Android VMs for each such closed messenger would be awesome. It wouldn't solve the underlying problem of having closed protocols to being with, but nobody would use the open phone if it doesn't do what they need right now.

In many countries you're forced to use closed apps to log in to government services, banks, and whatnot. If those could run in VMs it would also be rather nice. (Some of them actually try to detect if it's being run on a real phone or not).