[TrainedMonkey]

If some line drawn in the sand preventing you from getting the app to talk to your friend... Well, maybe you do not really want to talk to him all that much. I personally could live without skype, google talk, and imessage. However, because I got friends and family I do want to talk to, I just bite the bullet and use them.

[mbesto]

The problem is when you get taxed to do so. WhatsApp posed a much smaller tax ($2) than the potential tax you could have to pay to the telcos (roaming charges + SMS fees). This was the killer feature.

[themoonbus]

Exactly. And, you can still fallback to text, email, or a phone call...

[rurounijones]

As long as your friends are not the kind of people who organise their lives on those services.

"Oh, you didn't know about the party? I told everyone on the whatsapp group chat (that you are not a part of)".

When these walled-garden communication channels become the de facto way of socialising then not being on them is a massive handicap. (As I know from my friends moaning at me for not having whatsapp)

[themoonbus]

So should you be blaming the software, or your social circle?