Much has been written about whether "over-the-top" services, such as Skype, WhatsApp, and iMessage represent a threat to mobile network operators, potentially relegating their role to that of a dumb pipe.
Though mobile users have embraced traditional messaging services, today’s converging communication environment offers a wide range of alternatives. In many ways, subscriber loyalty is shifting from the mobile network operator to the device itself and the capabilities it offers.
Today’s consumers have more communication options than ever before. Given widespread adoption of smartphones and the convergence of mobile and IP-based messaging, mobile users have moved beyond basic texting to more sophisticated messaging options.
