Apple's Rationale for Not Bringing iMessage to Android Revealed in Legal Documents

[AndyMacAndMic]

How come? Isn't iMessage on by default? Atleast here in Finland it is. Most of users don't even understand that they are using "iMessage". It's still text message for most of users. You don't "use" iMessage, it is just an alternative and automatic message protocol to SMS?

Yes, iMessage is turned on by default, but I miss what you are trying to ask here.
I was reacting to a post about calling iPad a 'major competitive advantage'. So forgive me if I don't see the relation with your question.

Except for the USA, most of the world uses WhatsApp and iMessage has much less relevance there, so iMessage is hardly a 'major competitive advantage' in most of the world. What has being 'turned on by default' to do with this?

 

[Mr.Brossard]

There is no way Apple was ever going to put iMessage on Android or Windows: It could only hurt them to do so as they get no revenue from it, unlike Apple TV+ and Apple Music.

One of the purposes of iMessage is to create a distinguishing feature between messaging on Apple devices and messaging on other devices in order to drive sales of Apple stuff. I don't see why this is either a surprise or a problem.

What are Epic going to be complaining about next? Microsoft for having Xbox exclusive titles? Sony for having Playstation exclusive titles and Nintendo for having Switch exclusive titles?

They could charge for it. I'd gladly pay $50 or even $100 for iMessage on Windows.

 

[d686546s]

They could charge for it. I'd gladly pay $50 or even $100 for iMessage on Windows.

I'd be surprised if that was actually true, at least for more than just a tiny fragment of users. Why would they pay for something that they can get for free from WhatsApp or Signal?

 

[GizmoDVD]

But why can’t I play Mario on my Ps5? THATS NOT FAIR

 

[philrock]

I feel like this is only an issue because Google CHOSE not to develop a comparable messaging app AND make it standard on Android phones. If they had, ~85% of the worlds mobile devices would be able to communicate with each other like the ~15% of us with iMessage. The benefit of this for the market is that it has allowed third party messaging apps to flourish. Google is more likely to make an iOS version than Apple an Android version so that would effectively breakdown the barrier.

For work/organizational reasons I use GroupMe and WhatsApp; I also use WhatsApp to communicate with friends/family abroad that don't have iMessage.

 

[Denzo]

We are talking iMessage here. Hardly a 'major competitive advantage'.
As already mentioned in this thread: iMessage is popular mainly in the US and mostly irrelevant in the rest of the world.

Well here in Australia one of the reasons iOS is the number one OS is definitely iMessage. It makes android stuff look prehistoric. And what’s app is cool I use it sometimes but I prefer iMessage.

 

[Enlightened Doggo]

I used Android forever and was always able to receive vids and pics as well. That is not the issue.

Here is an older article about this:

https://www.techdirt.com/articles/2...gets-iphone-users-to-hate-android-users.shtml

Like I said man, Android has never stopped me from getting laid. Sounds like the kind of status symbol that lower status people would rely on.

 

[tCdemon]

Jajajaja...ummmm iMessage is not what keeps people lock into Apple...although we do like make fun of the green bubble people...I've asked tons of coworker, family, college peeps...what keeps them loyal to iPhone...one said iMessages!

What keeps me loyal to iPhones...easy simple to use, seamless work of iCloud between my devices!

 

[Darth Tulhu]

Like I said man, Android has never stopped me from getting laid.

Um, congratulations?

Sounds like the kind of status symbol that lower status people would rely on.

Apple products are known to be status symbols regardless of whether the individuals purchasing them are of "higher" or "lower" status (so much to unpack by bringing an individual's status up... I'll just leave that alone).

Apple knows their brand, and manages their products accordingly. Hence $700 computer wheels.

 

[123]

How come? Isn't iMessage on by default? Atleast here in Finland it is. Most of users don't even understand that they are using "iMessage". It's still text message for most of users. You don't "use" iMessage, it is just an alternative and automatic message protocol to SMS?

True. But people stopped sending "SMS" 10 years ago, so they also don't use iMessage, implicit or not.

 

[throAU]

iMessage requires storage in Apple's network to operate.

Should release it as a subscription for $5/yr/month/whatever for non-apple devices and be done with it.

 

[quarkysg]

Should release it as a subscription for $5/yr/month/whatever for non-apple devices and be done with it.

They probably could tie it to the Apple TV+ subscription to drive service adoption, tho. I don’t think uptake will be high, especially for a standalone iMessage subscription.

 

[Handsome Bacon]

What is cross platform for SMS...particularly on a Mac? The ONLY thing keeping me around is iMessage on my Mac. What else can I use that would allow me to drag photos from the desktop and text them?

 

[AndiG]

"iMessage on Android would simply serve to remove [an] obstacle to iPhone families giving their kids Android phones"

It is even worse. Apple acquires a lot of companies and the first thing Apple does, is to remove the Android compatibility of the product.

Apple acquires popular weather app Dark Sky and will shut down the Android version:
https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/31/...er-app-dark-sky-shut-down-android-wear-os-ios

 

[quarkysg]

What is cross platform for SMS...particularly on a Mac? The ONLY thing keeping me around is iMessage on my Mac. What else can I use that would allow me to drag photos from the desktop and text them?

Actually, it is not the Messages app or the iMessage server that is sending your SMS.

On your Mac (if I'm not wrong), when you send a message to a recipient, it'll check if the other end is iMessage capable. If it is, it'll send the recipient an iMessage. Otherwise, if your iPhone and Mac is setup to allow sending of SMS between them, your Mac sends the message to your iPhone over WiFi and your iPhone in turn sends the SMS out to the recipient. This of course means that your Mac and iPhone must be connected to the same network.

 

[gnasher729]

"iMessage on Android would simply serve to remove [an] obstacle to iPhone families giving their kids Android phones"

It is even worse. Apple acquires a lot of companies and the first thing Apple does, is to remove the Android compatibility of the product.

Apple acquires popular weather app Dark Sky and will shut down the Android version:
https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/31/...er-app-dark-sky-shut-down-android-wear-os-ios

Any reason why Apple shouldn't do that? They are not in the business of providing Android apps, after all.

 

[cashboxz02]

I'm surprised at how many people are saying, "But everyone uses WhatsApp". Either these people don't live in the US, or socialize with people outside the US, or are living proximal to a migrant community. What makes iMessage better? macOS integration. That, and it integrates with all other text messages. Also, why would you primarily use a third party app to do something your phone can natively do better??? Only because you talk mostly to people who prefer Android phones.

 

[threesixty360]

Yes it is arbitrary and what’s not helpful is your attempt to ignore things which show your arguments are inaccurate and flawed. So what if WeChat offers additional features? So do other chat apps. Line can be used for sending digital gift cards and for payments. Viber supports payments too, as well as having a news feed. Excluding Apps simply because they offer more than chat is pointless and illogical. Try again.

So where do you stop?
When FB has messaging in the built in app was the whole of FB a competitor to iMessage?
Is Microsoft Teams a competitor to iMessage as well? Is any application that has the ability to send a message to someone else suddenly a competitor to iMessage and all the other messaging apps?

Not to mention, NO ONE CAN COMPETE with WeChat anyway because its user base is in China where many western countries cannot operate effectively at all. So bringing in WeChat is on many levels, pretty irrelevant.

But if you want to win the award for pointing out something that maybe true but has no real bearing on the discussion... well, be my guest!

 

[AndyMacAndMic]

I'm surprised at how many people are saying, "But everyone uses WhatsApp". Either these people don't live in the US, or socialize with people outside the US, or are living proximal to a migrant community. What makes iMessage better? macOS integration. That, and it integrates with all other text messages. Also, why would you primarily use a third party app to do something your phone can natively do better??? Only because you talk mostly to people who prefer Android phones.

Why are you surprised? Most people in this thread are saying that iMessage is only relevant in the US and not so much in the rest of the world where mostly WhatsApp is used (and not 'Everyone uses Whatsapp'). That is what you are trying to say also. So what is the surprise?

 

[deevey]

I'm surprised at how many people are saying, "But everyone uses WhatsApp". Either these people don't live in the US, or socialize with people outside the US, or are living proximal to a migrant community. What makes iMessage better? macOS integration. That, and it integrates with all other text messages. Also, why would you primarily use a third party app to do something your phone can natively do better??? Only because you talk mostly to people who prefer Android phones.

Most people I know with an iPhone have never used iMessage or Facetime except by accidentally sending a message and it turns blue. I use it once or twice a month for those couple of friends who do use it.

The first question I've had from family members on receiving an iPhone for the first time is can they install Skype, Messenger, Hangouts, Vibr and Whatsapp (That, and "why did this message to you go blue?").

I talk to about 50% on each platform, on many occasions groups chats, so cross platform is a must.

It would be absolutely convenient for iMessage to be cross platform, I'd use it exclusively. But giving away a service for free doesn't benefit a company unless they are selling your data.

 

[WithLoveOliver]

This is spot on. The iMessage platform really locks you in like a SLAVE by providing a superior modality for convo. It’s just not right! I should pay a premium for the iOS ecosystem and get exactly the same as the people paying zero point zero pesos for a free cloud phone- that’s human rights folks! For instance, I’m in the same argument/righteous war with Rolls Royce. By providing me with a superior product, I was treated to a much better dating experience. Women and men seemed to respond with so much respect and interest when I drove up with my Rolls. Now that I drive a Geo Metro, I really need to sue Rolls Royce for locking all the privilege and exclusivity up in their brand. It’s not fair! Why should a brand control the experience of their product and make the experience better for users of their product only? As a matter of fact, why is brand?! Who cares about brand. It’s not like these things underpin the entire system of American capitalism! Take it down and make it average! I’m sure less iPhone sales will totally be what our economy needs. An injection of new, no innovation is what we’ve been seeking. Have a bad week everyone! Hello to you!

 

[TheNotch]

It's all about money in the end. Providing iMessage on Android would not bring in a penny for Apple, unlike Apple Music, which is available on Android. It's the same reason why YouTube is available on other platforms and not exclusive to Android. YouTube makes money regardless of platform.

 

[graclarkey]

Exactly my experience. And it's not like iPhones are unpopular here. Easily > 50% of my friends and family have iPhones, but WhatsApp has become the default chat app.

The lack of traction here in the UK is partly because many iPhone users don’t understand how to send multimedia (photos, etc) via iMessage or have group iMessage conversations between themselves without inadvertently incurring charges,
ie, by turning off the “Send as SMS” setting.

In the US, if an iMessage ‘falls back’ to a regular picture message text it costs the user a few kilobytes of data. In the UK, it costs most people somewhere between £0.35-£0.70 per message.

 

[graclarkey]

Everyone in the world that has an iPhone uses iMessage. They may also use other messaging platforms, but if they are sending an sms to anyone, they are using iMessage to do it.

Errr technically impossible. I think you mean they are using the iOS Messages app. iMessage is a service; not an app

 

[graclarkey]

I wonder why Apple wasn’t able to replicate succes of iMessage outside the US. i guess it comes down to critical market share of iOS devices.

the idea of lock-in because of iMessage is just ridiculous were I live (Europe) because iMessage doesn’t bring anything compelling to the table that isn‘t available from other servies that are cross platform.

That brings me to the question why Apple hasn’t innovated the service for years? They could have added sooooo many great features that would actually make it unique and bring in more users. For instance screen sharing, remote iOS troubleshooting, collaborative office work, integration with other apps, etc.

but all we got were stickers and confusing mention and reply mechanisms.

It’s not as popular outside of North America — even in countries with a high iOS market share such as the UK — due to how mobile phone providers charge for MMS in most countries, for example, £0.70 per message. Imagine how expensive that would get in a group conversation mixed with Android users! In the US, charges to send MMS are taken from your data allowance, so whilst Americans put up with a far more inferior group messaging experience (unless everybody’s an iPhone user), lots of people just stick with MMS instead of switching to Signal, WhatsApp, etc, as it doesn’t cost them the Earth like it would here.