When Will Universal Messaging Apps become a standard Norm for all platforms?

[Jeevan Pulluru]

The idea of universal messaging apps is truly unique idea created by MSFT engineers. It was introduced wayback in WP7 Days and the integration of facebook chat within Messaging app was truly unique for that time. Even though the same functionality has been introduced in Windows 10 Fall creators update, will the idea ever get to see it's prime time? For me it was one of the most interesting idea. What do you guys think about this feature? Will the developers ever take this opportunity to integrate their apps with People's Hub? If not, Why?
Assume that the same feature is introduced In android/ IOS, Will it work on a broader scale considering their market share?

 

[xandros9]

Honestly that idea has fallen to the wayside in favor of services going for their own apps. It gives the service more control over features, branding, etc. So I don't think we'll see it,

 

[Troy Tiscareno]

Developers don't want users to NOT use their apps - their #1 job is to keep you inside their app as much as possible. That's one of the reasons why so many messaging apps have closed their APIs over the last few years, including FB. By forcing you to use their app, there's a better chance that you'll use their other services, see their ads, buy products from their vendors, etc. Why would they want to give up that control to the OS? (Answer: they absolutely do not!)

 

[DOGC_Kyle]

The demand is simply not there. The feature has been around since 2009 (on Palm webOS, that was the main attraction of the OS), but it's never joined traction.
One of the main reasons, most people find it complicated (because they've never used it) and so it goes unused. Even if it's a better solution, simplicity > complexity.
Which is easier to use: an app that works out-of-the-box, or an app you have to configure with your own messaging service?

Even integrating a simple messaging service has been attempted on all major devices (iPhone has iMessage, Android had Google Hangouts, Windows had Skype, Blackberry had Hub).
Every single one except Apple's iMessage was removed in less than a year. Users simply didn't understand it.
Apple only succeeded because it worked seamlessly and transparently (most users didn't have to even enable it, it was always on). The feature was never "advertised", in fact it was harder to turn it off than leave it on. Basically they fooled users into using their product, therefore getting around the complexity/ease-of-use problem.

And then there's the branding/additional functionality, which others have already pointed out. Facebook, Kik, iMessage, and more have figured out how to monetize messaging, with microtransaction for added features.


In order for standardized messaging to become normal, users will need to understand WHAT it is, and WHY they'd want it. And the only way to do it, is to explain it to them, in a way that makes them WANT to use it.
The standardized system additionally needs to support all features, such as full emoji, bots, security, anything a service may want to implement.
If the demand is there, messaging services will follow it to avoid losing users.

 

[JeevanP]

You are absolutely right and I do agree the fact that developers are trying to engage the users as much as possible in their respective apps. If that is the situation, then how come bots in various apps will work in future because every major software giant is pushing towards AI. Granted that the bots that are being used in apps are very basic and to be frank I use them just to kill some time.