I would hope that Apple would never open up default messaging to Facebook. It seems contrary to its goals of creating a secure and private environment for its customers. If someone wants to use that crap, let them. At some point you have to protect people from themselves though.
There is a universal protocol called RCS that could replace SMS/MMS, but it is up to the cellular carriers to implement it. Here is an article from last year:
I don't really understand the request. Click on a link and open your default browser. Click on an email address open your default mail app. What are you clicking on to open the default messaging app? There is no universal messaging ID so this doesn't seem like a problem. Phone numbers are the closest, but I don't think Facebook Messenger works witha phone number anywa, though WhatsApp, a Facebook company, does.
Facebook can quite easily implement a schema for opening Facebook Messenger via a link.
Actually, there is an app in the App Store for Messenger. Just like other apps, you can set location and notifications when you get a message. I used it for a while but then the majority of my acquaintances got iPhones and we use Apple's app
While that is true, mainly it won't can't happen is because there is no universal protocol for messages (unlike mail and web), so its not like all messages can be routed to a single message app. FB is just being a PITA.
There is a universal protocol for messages (advanced texting) which could or would eventually replace SMS/MMS. It is called RCS, but it has failed to be adopted by cellular carriers due to its complexity amongst other things. It is a nightmare.
There’s no bloody way I want Facebook anywhere in my phone much less integrated into Messages. There’s a Facebook Messenger app just like WhatsApp, Viber, Signal and all the others. They can be in a level playing field with the rest of the third parties.
I find it amazing that for the total market share that the iPhone has globally (small), companies like Facebook (and banks, and countries) are demanding that Apple open's up it's closed platform to other competitors.
You may find it amazing based on a simple measure like market of devices online. That measure is almost meaningless. What matters is the share of economic activity conducted on Apple devices and the demographic profiles of those involved in that activity.
On average, those numbers are startling higher and more attractive to businesses than any other platform. If you think back to when war with Samsung was raging and the android crowd was ranting and raving about their huge market share it was pointed out so what, Apple had 95% of the industry's profits. The money is in Apple's system. Apple is so economically superior to any other platform that it is laughable you would "find it amazing" these other companies are demanding Apple open up to them. If they weren't demanding this they should fired for incompetence.
Here’s a few Messenger “features” that let FB access your personal and contact’s info, from a Lifewire article:
“Another great thing about sharing images and videos through Messenger is that the app and website collect all the media files so you can quickly sift through them.”
“Messenger functions as a simple way to send money to people using just your debit card information. You can do this from both the website and the mobile app.”
“Messenger lets you play games within the app or Messenger.com website, even while in a group message. You don’t have to download another app or visit another website to start playing with other Messenger users.”
“Instead of using a dedicated app to show someone where you are, you can let recipients follow your location for up to an hour with Messenger’s built-in location-sharing feature, which only works from the mobile app.”
“Although Messenger doesn’t have a calendar, it does let you create event reminders through the Reminders button on the mobile app. Another neat way to do it is to send a message that contains a reference to a day, and the app automatically asks you if you want to make a reminder.”
“Add new Messenger contacts by inviting contacts from your phone or, if you’re on Facebook, your Facebook friends. There’s also a custom Scan Code you can grab from within the app and share with others, who can then scan your code to add you to their Messenger instantly.”
So Facebook gathers your media (and can Facial Recognize people), accesses your debit card (and by extension your checking account) info, play games outside of the App Store system, gives away your location as you move, collects event data, can access your entire contact list and add (recruit) new users, just to name a few.
Gee, who gets to benefit from all these “features”? And whose info get analyzed and shared (sold) by Facebook to ad companies and others? And who “guards” this data?
No thanks, I’m not willing to give away my info or the info of others I know. Messenger is an info gathering and recruiting platform rather than a general communication service.
But if iOS users want to freely give up that info, I hope Apple forces FB to disclose, at every decision point, what users are allowing access to. And the option to opt out.
Don’t respond so juvenile. I dislike Facebook like many here as they are hypocritical if you look at their own business practices, but they do have a point here. Opening up “default apps” selectively to just the Browser and Mail, but not music, maps, messaging, etc, only accentuates the fact Apple’s behavior is anti competitive.
They have become so huge that an App Store is not just an App Store anymore (imagine you could only rent a house from one of the two private companies in the world), and the ability to not allow users to select their default apps system wide is putting Apple’s financial interests over consumer choice and free market values.
In fact, Apple has built in this “default app” feature just to prepare for legal antitrust actions against them, so that when they are finally forced to change, they just do a quick iOS update to include other app types. This is terrible behavior from Apple’s part and legal action is way overdue.
Likely we'll never know, but it would be interesting to know what % of people end up changing their default mail & browser.
I'd guess it's pretty low.
Yes and I think that once Apple finally allows all app types to be opened up like this, the next step would be to legally force Apple to allow apps to ask for a “default change” unless users turn that off, or if that is more user friendly, a more centralized and accessible settings menu.
Apple has buried the current settings deliberately, so they know it won’t cannibalize their monopolistic position.
There is a universal protocol called RCS that could replace SMS/MMS, but it is up to the cellular carriers to implement it. Here is an article from last year:
Don’t hold your breath! Apple is not likely to adopt it anytime soon.
There are more carriers this impacts than just the USA. There is the rest of the world to consider. Until such a measure is adopted by the ITU then Apple is wise to keep its powder dry.
The last thing we want as users is a repeat of the debacle when half the phones sold in the US (CDMA) won't in say Europe, Africa, India etc.
And GSM phones from most of the world can only roam on a few carriers in the USA.
At the moment, I can send a text/sms to my cousin in the middle of Austrailia and know that it will reach him. He uses an ancient Nokia 3310. It is rugged and he can swap batteries when on the go across his farm that covers an area of well over 1000sq miles. He gets 2G/3G signal over most of it. Forget 4G or 5G it ain't gonna happen out there.
Adding an incompatible protocol is just going to make a lot of people very angry. Just like replacing iMessage with some POS from Zuck and friends.
Is there a prize to see who can put forward the most stupid idea of the month?
What would be really needed is GSM consortium creates universal IP based messaging protocol like iMessage to extend SMS functionality and take over SMS in future.
They have become so huge that an App Store is not just an App Store anymore (imagine you could only rent a house from one of the two private companies in the world), and the ability to not allow users to select their default apps system wide is putting Apple’s financial interests over consumer choice and free market values.
In fact, Apple has built in this “default app” feature just to prepare for legal antitrust actions against them, so that when they are finally forced to change, they just do a quick iOS update to include other app types. This is terrible behavior from Apple’s part and legal action is way overdue.
They may be huge but they are nowhere near a monopoly. Last time I checked, the largest smartphone OS by far is Android. To do what you want to do, the laws need to be drastically changed such that competitive success (i.e. being favored by customers), not monopoly power (i.e. customers have no other choice), is the trigger for antitrust enforcement. That is the most inane and ignorant policy idea anyone one can come up with. It completely subverts the free enterprise incentive system.
Comments
https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/24/20931202/us-carriers-rcs-cross-carrier-messaging-initiative-ccmi-att-tmobile-sprint-verizon
Don’t hold your breath! Apple is not likely to adopt it anytime soon.
Messanger is awful
rather on the contrary
I wouldn’t hold your breath on the success of RCS anytime soon.
Only one person (orange skin and a comb over) has done more to destroy America and Democracy than Zuckerberg has.
Apple and Amazon are angels compared to this traitor to democracy.
You may find it amazing based on a simple measure like market of devices online. That measure is almost meaningless. What matters is the share of economic activity conducted on Apple devices and the demographic profiles of those involved in that activity.
On average, those numbers are startling higher and more attractive to businesses than any other platform. If you think back to when war with Samsung was raging and the android crowd was ranting and raving about their huge market share it was pointed out so what, Apple had 95% of the industry's profits. The money is in Apple's system. Apple is so economically superior to any other platform that it is laughable you would "find it amazing" these other companies are demanding Apple open up to them. If they weren't demanding this they should fired for incompetence.
“Another great thing about sharing images and videos through Messenger is that the app and website collect all the media files so you can quickly sift through them.”
“Messenger functions as a simple way to send money to people using just your debit card information. You can do this from both the website and the mobile app.”
“Messenger lets you play games within the app or Messenger.com website, even while in a group message. You don’t have to download another app or visit another website to start playing with other Messenger users.”
“Instead of using a dedicated app to show someone where you are, you can let recipients follow your location for up to an hour with Messenger’s built-in location-sharing feature, which only works from the mobile app.”
“Although Messenger doesn’t have a calendar, it does let you create event reminders through the Reminders button on the mobile app. Another neat way to do it is to send a message that contains a reference to a day, and the app automatically asks you if you want to make a reminder.”
“Add new Messenger contacts by inviting contacts from your phone or, if you’re on Facebook, your Facebook friends. There’s also a custom Scan Code you can grab from within the app and share with others, who can then scan your code to add you to their Messenger instantly.”
So Facebook gathers your media (and can Facial Recognize people), accesses your debit card (and by extension your checking account) info, play games outside of the App Store system, gives away your location as you move, collects event data, can access your entire contact list and add (recruit) new users, just to name a few.
Gee, who gets to benefit from all these “features”? And whose info get analyzed and shared (sold) by Facebook to ad companies and others? And who “guards” this data?
No thanks, I’m not willing to give away my info or the info of others I know. Messenger is an info gathering and recruiting platform rather than a general communication service.
But if iOS users want to freely give up that info, I hope Apple forces FB to disclose, at every decision point, what users are allowing access to. And the option to opt out.
In fact, Apple has built in this “default app” feature just to prepare for legal antitrust actions against them, so that when they are finally forced to change, they just do a quick iOS update to include other app types. This is terrible behavior from Apple’s part and legal action is way overdue.