Whatsapps original purpose wasn’t where it reached its niche. It was in the right place at the right time - it launched as it became easy to distribute apps, and it used free data (wifi or gprs) to undercut sms. This latter fact wasn’t valuable in the west, but was great in poorer countries.

This built up the network, and unlike the European and academic way of building open networks and software (web, linux, email) it captured the walled garden.

I have no idea why it was valued at however many billions though even with that.

There’s nothing special about WhatsApp that signal and telegram don’t do other than that existing network, primarily driven by laziness of the consumer (as there’s no reason you cant have all the apps installed)

> primarily driven by laziness of the consumer

oh yes :(

> unlike the European and academic way of building open networks and software (web, linux, email) it captured the walled garden

That's why politics should make sure those walled gardens have huge holes all around those walls. And no, its not the politicians fault, its the fault of the voters that they don't put politicians in power doing these things.