Anyone who has ever used a Samsung Galaxy device will be aware of the ChatOn instant messaging app that comes pre-installed on every machine. While some may have actually used it to communicate with people, Samsung is admitting that there are not enough users on the service to justify keeping it around, and will begin to phase the app out on future releases.
Reduced profits have caused the smartphone giant to rethink its approach to the industry, and Samsung has already considered scaling back the number of models it puts out every year. A number of media consumption services have also been abandoned, with the Video and Music hubs making way for Samsung’s new Milk service that changes how the company intends to deliver music.
Considering the number of instant messaging apps competing for users, ChatOn never really stood a chance of catching on with the public. While it claimed some 100 million users at some point, Samsung failed to increase those numbers; and soon lost momentum to apps like KakaoTalk and WeChat.
It makes sense for Samsung to drop ChatOn at this stage, as the messaging app market becomes more and more saturated. Not to mention growing concerns with privacy and encryption would require the company to increase investment in the service just to keep it going.
While ChatOn is going away, it would not be surprising if Samsung decided to try again with something new when profits return to less worrying levels.
[Update] Samsung has responded to the news about ChatOn and claims that the service is here to stay. The company told The Verge that the rumours are false and that ChatOn will continue to be offered to users world wide. This should be good news for the loyal few Samsung fans who are still using the app.
[Source: Korea Times]
