Android amps up campaign to push Apple into adopting RCS
Android has launched a new website highlighting some of the challenges in interoperability between Android and iOS -- and has urged Apple to adopt RCS to address it.
Green bubbles & blue bubbles
The new webpage, published the same day as Samsung's Unpacked event, tackles a range of common complaints from Android and iOS users about communication and collaboration between the two software platforms.
Some of the issues include broken group chats, lack of end-to-end encryption and typing indicators, low-quality media, and more. Android believes Apple can solve these problems by adopting the net-generation texting standard Rich Communications Services (RCS).
RCS is a next-generation protocol meant to replace the aging SMS standard. The system will bring a number of iMessage-like features to Android, including cross-platform stickers, read receipts, encryption, Wi-Fi texting, and more.
However, RCS in its current form is a messy standard, with not all carriers, device makers, and operating systems supporting it. In other words, it's currently an option but not a standard.
This isn't the first time that Google as tried to hammer on the "green bubble, blue bubble" issue.
Google has alleged in the past that Apple uses text colors in Messages to "bully" Android users. Third-party reports have also made claims that the text color code system puts pressure on users -- such as teens -- to switch to iPhone.
Android and Google have also made moves to try and get Apple to adopt RCS. Back in 2021, a Google executive extended an "open invitation" to help Apple support the protocol.
Apple doesn't currently have much reason to adopt RCS, since the protocol doesn't add anything than iMessage lacks. However, the Cupertino tech giant could be pressured into offering it as an alternative to iMessage if it actually becomes a standard.
Read on AppleInsider
Green bubbles & blue bubbles
The new webpage, published the same day as Samsung's Unpacked event, tackles a range of common complaints from Android and iOS users about communication and collaboration between the two software platforms.
Some of the issues include broken group chats, lack of end-to-end encryption and typing indicators, low-quality media, and more. Android believes Apple can solve these problems by adopting the net-generation texting standard Rich Communications Services (RCS).
RCS is a next-generation protocol meant to replace the aging SMS standard. The system will bring a number of iMessage-like features to Android, including cross-platform stickers, read receipts, encryption, Wi-Fi texting, and more.
However, RCS in its current form is a messy standard, with not all carriers, device makers, and operating systems supporting it. In other words, it's currently an option but not a standard.
This isn't the first time that Google as tried to hammer on the "green bubble, blue bubble" issue.
Google has alleged in the past that Apple uses text colors in Messages to "bully" Android users. Third-party reports have also made claims that the text color code system puts pressure on users -- such as teens -- to switch to iPhone.
Android and Google have also made moves to try and get Apple to adopt RCS. Back in 2021, a Google executive extended an "open invitation" to help Apple support the protocol.
Apple doesn't currently have much reason to adopt RCS, since the protocol doesn't add anything than iMessage lacks. However, the Cupertino tech giant could be pressured into offering it as an alternative to iMessage if it actually becomes a standard.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
I for one want to know what messaging system my messages are being sent over. Doesn't everyone?
iMessage is not lock-in, it's simply a benefit you get with Apple products. Why should Apple give that benefit to users of other products when they don't charge for the service and make no money from it? In contrast Apple Music/iTunes is a service that Apple makes money from, so it makes sense to have it available for other platforms.
From my address book on Android, I can see who has Whatsapp and then that is what is used (doesn't matter if that user is on iOS or not).
If there is no Whatsapp option then I would try Signal, Line, Telegram etc before falling back on the stock Android message app.
I do not know anyone on iOS that uses Messages. It's mainly Whatsapp for those people.
it is half arsed, as we would say in my country.
To answer the question posed earlier, if you try to send a WhatsApp message to anyone who doesn’t have WhatsApp, it goes nowhere. That’s WhatsApp’s fatal flaw, and exactly what Apple could attack with iMessage for Android.
Also, I don’t believe anything noted liar Zuck Finn says about WhatsApp and it’s privacy/security. I only note that the federal agencies screaming about iMessage’s encryption are curiously quiet about Android and WhatsApp … even though the user base for RCS/SMS and WhatsApp are likely larger than iMessage …
There must be a reason, probably non-technical that Apple didn't open Source FaceTime and iMessage a decade ago.
https://9to5mac.com/2018/06/06/make-facetime-an-open-standard/