Exploring the Ambitious Vision Behind Musk's "Everything App"
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Chapter 1: Introduction to the Concept of an "Everything App"
WeChat has earned the nickname “everything app” due to its extensive functionality, dominating the communication landscape in China. While it primarily functions as a chat application, it encompasses a myriad of additional features such as maps, video calls, and payment systems. With over 1 billion monthly active users, its stronghold in China raises questions about why a comparable platform hasn't emerged in other regions. Although alternatives like Meta’s Messenger and WhatsApp boast similar user bases, the presence of apps like Apple’s iMessage has hindered the emergence of a WeChat equivalent in markets outside China.
However, a new contender has recently started gaining attention, particularly after leveraging an interview with Elon Musk as a key element of their promotional strategy:
Chapter 2: Introducing Thisapp
The app named thisapp aspires to be the primary chat platform beyond China, essentially aiming to be the WeChat of the rest of the world.
Section 2.1: Features of Thisapp
So, what can users expect from thisapp? The interface consists of four main tabs: chat, plan, pay, and activity.
The “chat” tab provides functionalities such as audio transcription, video rooms, event organization, and payment integration.
Image Credit: Thisapp, Product Hunt
The “plan” tab showcases upcoming events scheduled through the chat feature and syncs with third-party calendars for seamless organization.
Image Credit: Thisapp, Product Hunt
The “pay” tab enables users to manage shared expenses effortlessly, providing a clear overview of who owes what.
Image Credit: Thisapp, Product Hunt
Lastly, the “activity” tab keeps track of all recent actions related to payments, friends, and scheduled events.
Image Credit: Thisapp, Product Hunt
Section 2.2: Accessing Thisapp
Currently in its beta phase, thisapp is offering early access to users who sign up. Given the app’s nature, its usefulness is contingent on widespread adoption among peers, prompting the introduction of a referral program where top referrers can earn free company stock.
Will Thisapp Become Popular?
With a plethora of alternatives available, the success of thisapp is uncertain, particularly since persuading users to migrate their conversations from established platforms is a significant challenge.
While platforms like iMessage facilitate in-message payments, they do not support the kind of payment splitting that thisapp proposes. Additionally, thisapp's integrated calendar feature offers a straightforward method for coordinating events, which is not currently available in iMessage.
Ultimately, whether these unique functionalities will persuade users to switch from their preferred messaging app remains to be seen. There’s even the possibility that a larger company might acquire thisapp before it can build significant momentum.
As always, I appreciate your engagement with this topic. What are your thoughts on thisapp? Do you believe it has the potential for widespread adoption, or do you think it's lacking in certain areas? I invite you to share your insights in the comments.
For further reading, you might find this piece intriguing:
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