My understanding is the reason they are dead in the US is even though the banks might let you build payments into it they will not let you negotiate any discount in fees so you will have to add your own fees on top of their own fees. It begs the question of why a bank or consortium of banks hasn’t developed a super app.

When I gave this talk in late 2016

https://www.slideshare.net/paulahoule/chatbots-in-2017-ithac...

there was huge interest in messaging-centric apps as this runs around the boondoggle of having even the tiniest patch to your app get reviewed.

Exactly. Most people would rather use the best app for the niche thing they want to do rather than the shittier version from some mega-app they happen to have for some other reason.

Yes, but don't underestimate the power of convenience. That factor seems to inordinately raise the shittiness toleration threshold these days.

Why do they show up in other asian markets, like Grab and such?

A lot of people are used to WeChat, so it can feel natural to make another one. LINE is also basically WeChat.

I don't think that's enough to make them competitive though. For instance, a scandal in one feature of the app (or Facebook being considered lame by kids) will hurt the rest of it.