IM apps increasingly ubiquitous in Mexico
Nearly everyone with a smartphone in Mexico uses at least one instant messaging (IM) app, with users preferring WhatsApp.
In fact, 98% of the 36.4mn smartphone users in the country had such apps at the end of 4Q13, telecom consultancy The Competitive Intelligence Unit said in a release.
WhatsApp is the most popular IM app, used on 88% of smartphones.
"In less than one year, this app quadrupled its position as the preferred app among users, which is due to its compatibility with all operating systems," The CIU said.
Facebook Chat was the second most popular IM app, regularly used by 8% of smartphone owners, followed by Skype and WeChat, each with 1%. Line and BlackBerry Messenger are used to a lesser extent, at 0.5% and 0.3% respectively.
"Platforms such as BlackBerry Messenger, which a few years ago held a major market share, have seen a drastic decline," the CIU said. "This is due, essentially, to a limited expansion of its networks and the imminent popularization of its competitors."
While downloads of less popular apps such as Line and WeChat grew slightly, they still lack the ubiquity of WhatsApp and Facebook Chat, which is one of the major appeals of downloaded IM apps.
CIU analyst Gonzalo Rojón told BNamericas that WhatsApp was one of the first apps to be offered on all platforms.
"Once it was consolidated as an app that everyone could download, the network effect applied. If what you want is to communicate with people, you're not going to download an app that only three people you know have," Rojón said.
Overall, IM apps have been more popular in Mexico than in the US and Europe, where telecom providers are more likely to offer unlimited SMS plans.
"They haven't had the need to adopt other applications such as WhatsApp," he said.
This is not always the case in Mexico, where the average message costs about 0.80 pesos (US$0.06), though this depends on the provider and plan, Rojón said.
Mexican carriers are only recently beginning to offer cheaper SMS plans, though not to the extent seen in other countries.
Subscribe to the leading business intelligence platform in Latin America with different tools for Providers, Contractors, Operators, Government, Legal, Financial and Insurance industries.
News in: ICT (Mexico)
Snapshot: The latest fiber optics projects in Latin America
BNamericas takes a look at key projects announced or advanced in recent days, from public-led to private-pushed initiatives.
LatAm firms forecast to spend almost US$460mn on AI in 2024
About a third of the amount is expected to go to generative AI, with Brazil leading investments, according to IDC.
Subscribe to Latin America’s most trusted business intelligence platform.
Other projects in: ICT
Get critical information about thousands of ICT projects in Latin America: what stages they're in, capex, related companies, contacts and more.
- Project: CloudHQ Paulínia data center (GRU technological campus)
- Current stage:
- Updated:
16 hours ago
- Project: AWS Data Center Region in Querétaro
- Current stage:
- Updated:
7 days ago
- Project: Google data center in Uruguay (Teros)
- Current stage:
- Updated:
2 weeks ago
- Project: Norte Conectado Program (Infovia 03)
- Current stage:
- Updated:
2 weeks ago
- Project: Norte Conectado Program (Infovia 02)
- Current stage:
- Updated:
2 weeks ago
- Project: New Google datacenter in Argentina
- Current stage:
- Updated:
2 weeks ago
- Project: Google Cloud Region in Mexico
- Current stage:
- Updated:
2 weeks ago
- Project: Fiber Optic communications installation - Third phase (IFO III)
- Current stage:
- Updated:
2 weeks ago
- Project: Espírito Santo fiber optic network (ES-Digital)
- Current stage:
- Updated:
2 weeks ago
- Project: Cerrillos Data Center
- Current stage:
- Updated:
2 weeks ago
Other companies in: ICT (Mexico)
Get critical information about thousands of ICT companies in Latin America: their projects, contacts, shareholders, related news and more.
- Company: GA Energy Services, S.A.P.I. de C.V.  (GA Energy Services)
-
The description contained in this profile was taken directly from an official source and has not been edited or modified by BNamericas researchers, but may have been automatical...
- Company: Skyalert de México S.A.P.I. de C.V.
- Company: Axis Communications  (Axis LAC)
-
The description included in this profile was taken directly from an official source and has not been modified or edited by the BNamericas’ researchers. However, it may have been...
- Company: Diri Telecomunicaciones S.A. de C.V.  (Diri Móvil)
-
The description contained in this profile was taken directly from an official source and has not been edited or modified by BNamericas researchers, but may have been automatical...
- Company: Impulsora del Desarrollo y el Empleo en América Latina, S.A.B. de C.V.  (Ideal)
-
Impulsora del Desarrollo y el Empleo en América Latina, S.A.B. de C.V. (Ideal) is a Mexican engineering and construction parent company, established in 2005 for designing, devel...
- Company: Odata Colocation México S.A. de C.V.
- Company: Intelisis Software S.A. de C.V.  (Intelisis)
-
The description contained in this profile was taken directly from an official source and has not been edited or modified by BNamericas researchers, but may have been automatical...
- Company: VTEX México