[immibis]

iMessage is popular in the US because everyone has an iPhone because everyone has iMessage and everyone connects it to social status - network effects. The same reason (besides the social status) everyone uses WhatsApp in Europe.

This has more to do with the way the iPhone was launched, and the American desire to own the most expensive product, than any technical merits.

[Melatonic]

They've also finally added RCS support so while you still get "green bubbles" you mostly avoid SMS

[ranger_danger]

Still no encrypted RCS support though.