Great comments by the community on the piece I wrote on WhatsApp Web and WhatsApp Desktop. Largely, the consensus from our community is this: “WhatsApp can’t beat Zoom at the game of video conferencing.” I had noted that the new WhatsApp Desktop app enables users to make calls from their laptops, creating a mini-alternative for Zoom. In other words, if most Zoom calls originate at WhatsApp (and LinkedIn), with this new feature and possible screen-show feature in future, WhatsApp Desktop could go after Zoom.
Our community does not think that WhatsApp has a chance. I agree, but note this : WhatsApp does not need to be as good as Zoom to be successful. The strategy is this: have the one oasis (the core WhatsApp which here is Chat) and try to offer many other features primarily to reduce the churn, and keep your customers with you. So, provided WhatsApp video is good enough, even if not great, the company has won. Why? That “good enough” can keep say 30% of the users especially for a free product.
In other words, WhatsApp Desktop video does not need to be as great as Zoom to be a success. It simply needs to be good enough to keep many within its ecosystem. So, examining the whole construct that it has to “beat” Zoom may not be the right call.
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Video is Zoom’s one oasis, Chat is WhatsApp’s one oasis; but they will offer marginal features to make it easier for users to enjoy one thing: have many of the things in one place and save themselves the headache of installing and flipping apps. Interestingly, most users appreciate that. That is what WhatsApp is doing – stay here and never leave for another Zoom call. In short, feel free to uninstall Zoom as we have all in one place.
Comment on LinkedIn Feed
Comment: It’s easy to underestimate what WhatsApp could do following this new development.
How can we overlook the fact that WhatsApp has Everyday Utility Value and consequently, it has the users? The other platforms are only borrowing those users. As WhatsApp recaptures its daily users on PCs, businesses will chase after those users, whether they like it or not as businesses tend to gravitate around platforms with large user base.
In my comment on the previous post, I also pointed out that WhatsApp doesn’t need to beat the tier one enterprise communications space. You, however worded it much better “WhatsApp doesn’t need to be as good as Zoom to be successful”, it only needs to be WhatsApp at the PC level.
WhatsApp is not the one competing here, it’s only taking back its rightful place.
My Response: “WhatsApp has Everyday Utility Value and consequently, it has the users” – the morning begins at WhatsApp, not Zoom!
WhatsApp Goes After Emails, Zoom, via Updated WhatsApp Web and Desktop
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But Google+ couldn’t breathe, despite having Google search and Chrome by its sides? The logic is that Whatsapp would retain many of its users who always move over to Zoom to have their video call, but what class of users are they: paying ones or free ones?
Apple is a clear example on why it’s never easy to convince those with the money who are already comfortable where they are, to join you, some don’t joke with their beautiful experiences.
At social level, Whatsapp will retain sizable users, but it’s a different thing at enterprise level, because many who take part in Zoom call, you don’t have their phone numbers and it’s not something they are willing to share, how will Whatsapp solve that?
This video thing won’t still be the Eldorado Whatsapp or Meta is looking for, it still needs to throw up another magic; this one is marginal.