Google keeps trying to hammer on Apple for not adopting RCS
In a birthday post earlier in 2023, and again during Wednesday's I/O conference, Google continues to court Apple, trying to get it to adopt RCS. It's still not ready, not a standard, and not something Google is all-in on itself.
Google continues to beg Apple to fix its messaging problem
Apple's products rely on iMessage when commuting with other Apple products, then fall back on SMS for everyone else. Google has been aggressively pushing a newer standard called RCS, but it isn't quite ready for primetime.
A push from Google arrives in the form of a condescending blog post. It is nearly the 30th anniversary of the first-ever SMS text, and Google wants Apple to know there's something newer... again.
"Most of the mobile world is using RCS, but there is one company that's dragging its heels," the blog post reads, alluding to Apple. "But after 30 years of SMS texting, it's truly time."
And, it tried to hit the nail again during Wednesday's Google I/O conference. The message remains weak.
First, Google cites security thanks to end-to-end encryption. However, it forgets to mention that users have to send messages via the Google Messages app for encryption. That, and encryption for group chats is only available to users of the Google Messages beta.
Second, Google says RCS enables higher-resolution images, video, and more things like emoji reactions. However, other messaging services like Signal, WeChat, Facebook Messenger, and even iMessage already have these improvements. It is Google's problem that Android users don't have the same benefit by default.
Finally, Google calls RCS an industry standard. Which it isn't, not even close. Google hasn't even adopted RCS across all of its disparate messaging platforms.
The post also disparages Apple for using SMS as a fallback, despite RCS doing the same. RCS only works over an internet connection, so it will fall back to SMS just like iMessage does when internet strength isn't good enough.
There is also a fundamental issue with Apple adopting RCS since it is a direct competing platform with iMessage. Google acts as if RCS is a replacement for SMS, but it isn't -- it is just another layer on top of it.
Apple debuted iMessage as a method to unify messaging across its platforms and take the guesswork away from its users. Google failed to do the same, and is making it Apple's problem.
Hopefully, Google can #GetTheMessage that it isn't Apple's job to fix messaging on Android products.
Read on AppleInsider
Google continues to beg Apple to fix its messaging problem
Apple's products rely on iMessage when commuting with other Apple products, then fall back on SMS for everyone else. Google has been aggressively pushing a newer standard called RCS, but it isn't quite ready for primetime.
A push from Google arrives in the form of a condescending blog post. It is nearly the 30th anniversary of the first-ever SMS text, and Google wants Apple to know there's something newer... again.
"Most of the mobile world is using RCS, but there is one company that's dragging its heels," the blog post reads, alluding to Apple. "But after 30 years of SMS texting, it's truly time."
And, it tried to hit the nail again during Wednesday's Google I/O conference. The message remains weak.
Google's three reasons why
The post provides three reasons Apple needs to get on board with RCS. However, the reasoning isn't exactly sound.First, Google cites security thanks to end-to-end encryption. However, it forgets to mention that users have to send messages via the Google Messages app for encryption. That, and encryption for group chats is only available to users of the Google Messages beta.
Second, Google says RCS enables higher-resolution images, video, and more things like emoji reactions. However, other messaging services like Signal, WeChat, Facebook Messenger, and even iMessage already have these improvements. It is Google's problem that Android users don't have the same benefit by default.
Finally, Google calls RCS an industry standard. Which it isn't, not even close. Google hasn't even adopted RCS across all of its disparate messaging platforms.
The post also disparages Apple for using SMS as a fallback, despite RCS doing the same. RCS only works over an internet connection, so it will fall back to SMS just like iMessage does when internet strength isn't good enough.
RCS isn't the answer
The foundation of this post is the age of SMS -- 30 years. While this is an aging standard that needs to be replaced, it is also a universal one that the entire globe benefits from. No matter how embedded RCS, iMessage, or other platforms become, SMS will take a decade or more to phase out completely.There is also a fundamental issue with Apple adopting RCS since it is a direct competing platform with iMessage. Google acts as if RCS is a replacement for SMS, but it isn't -- it is just another layer on top of it.
Apple debuted iMessage as a method to unify messaging across its platforms and take the guesswork away from its users. Google failed to do the same, and is making it Apple's problem.
Hopefully, Google can #GetTheMessage that it isn't Apple's job to fix messaging on Android products.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
Hey Google you don't see us cry every time you kill off a product.
BTW, sell NEST back to Tony so we can have HomeKit support.
Sure, RCS isn't perfect and is still mid-adoption, but you say it's not the solution to fixing cross-platform messaging without offering any other options. What would you rather see happen to improve how iOS and Android communicate? It's easy to criticize, but you don't seem to have a better solution to offer.
Your argument here doesn't make any sense and here's why: it's not Apple or Appleinsider that's complaining about cross-platform messaging. So when Google suggests a solution, Apple is free to say "no thanks.' They aren't required to offer their own solution; they aren't the ones complaining.
Google says RCS enables higher-resolution images, video, and more things like emoji reactions. However, other messaging services like Signal, WeChat, Facebook Messenger, and even iMessage already have these improvements. It is Google's problem that Android users don't have the same benefit by default.
I don't want to speak for the author, but from the above, it appears that the author did not mean to say Android users can't share high-res images by default at all, but rather it is the combination of multiple features that represents the "same benefit" that other platforms have that Android users don't have.
Also, it's not the author's responsibility to offer a better solution. Reporting the facts are, which I believe has been done in this article.
If the author is going to state, as a fact, that RCS isn't the answer, then he should tell us what the answer is. Otherwise it's just his opinion.
It's likely due to iMessages that carriers caved and started rolling it into the plans.
Know what? I think everyone that I iMessage/Text has an iPhone. So not really a problem for me and I could care less.
Would there be benefits to Apple's customer base if RCS was adopted instead of just SMS? Of course, as most of us do interact with people with green bubbles. but there are definitely downfalls, as well as many difficult pitfalls for Apple for trying to shoehorn many competing and half-baked standards into a single something that just works.
Have you asked yourself why Google wants Apple to support this? At the very least they want Apple to support it so that it becomes popular. Do you think it's fair for Google to pressure another company into paying a lot of money writing and testing code so that another can benefit off their branding? Why not first make RCS good, safe, and popular amongst Android users. If that happens, then I think Apple will have no choice but to adopt it, but not the other way around. If you build it, they will come.
Mister 5 post don’t trust you or Google, RCS like Flash is something Apple doesn’t need. Enjoy Android…..
What? Are you saying there's just no way that iOS and Android users could possibly communicate better? MMS is peak technology? Pack it in and shut it down because there's no way to improve the current situation!