Google Executive Wants to Help Apple Make Texts Between Android and iPhone Users More Secure

[danmart]

Apple also provides online page to log-off a number from iMessage

I mentioned that in my post

 

[polyphenol]

In most European countries people use WhatsApp and FB Messenger. Doesn't matter what people say.

It matters if they use their claims (whatever they are) as a big part of their argument.

 

[d686546s]

I don't know anyone that uses WhatsApp. Everybody uses iMessage. Or plain SMS.

(At least, of those people with whom I communicate.)

Shows that we each have our own experience of this. But I'm not claiming that iMessage and SMS are in the majority, that WhatsApp isn't widely used.

It's pretty unsurprising that there would be users in Europe who exclusively use iMessage/SMS/MMS, or don't use WhatsApp but another messenger, or even use email as their exclusive means of communication. There will always be someone.

The point is how representative such a user is. There's statistics others have posted in this thread.

There's multiple European users in this conversation who have said similar things.

There's an entire thread in this forum where users from Europe, Latin America and elsewhere share similar experiences.

At some point you need to ask yourself whether your own experience and nothing but your own experience really is a strong argument for "oh but we couldn't possibly have any assumptions about general trends because we all have our own experience."

Sorry if this comes across as combative, it really isn't meant that way, but this conversation keeps turning in circles because people keep dismissing all data there is just because there is no clear published data from Apple.

Yes sometimes there's uncertainty and risk when looking at things. That's life. That doesn't mean that we can basically dismiss everything but our individual experience.

 

[johnsc3]

Although it would be great if RCS becomes truly universal and replaces SMS as it was intended, imo Google should be making sure all Android have it first. Right now, only Samsung adopted it, and even then it’s not turned on by default. All Chinese OEMs don’t support RCS on their default SMS apps. That’s the problem. If Google can ensure at least 90% of Android have this turned on by default, then maybe things might be different as people will use it by default.

Right now, to use RCS, a person using Android other than Samsung or Pixel have to consciously download Google Messages first to replace their default SMS app. That alone already kills RCS. Google should require RCS support for Android certification if they want RCS to gain traction.

And we have not even touched the carriers. There’s a reason Apple just did their own thing with iMessage. Too much inept parties involved in RCS.

Wow! Talk about not having your own house in order. I couldn’t honestly take google or anyone in a similar position seriously?

 

[sdz]

the EU must enforce E2E RCS. Apple must be forced. They won't move otherwise.

 

[dk001]

It's pretty unsurprising that there would be users in Europe who exclusively use iMessage/SMS/MMS, or don't use WhatsApp but another messenger, or even use email as their exclusive means of communication. There will always be someone.

The point is how representative such a user is. There's statistics others have posted in this thread.

There's multiple European users in this conversation who have said similar things.

There's an entire thread in this forum where users from Europe, Latin America and elsewhere share similar experiences.

At some point you need to ask yourself whether your own experience and nothing but your own experience really is a strong argument for "oh but we couldn't possibly have any assumptions about general trends because we all have our own experience."

Sorry if this comes across as combative, it really isn't meant that way, but this conversation keeps turning in circles because people keep dismissing all data there is just because there is no clear published data from Apple.

Yes sometimes there's uncertainty and risk when looking at things. That's life. That doesn't mean that we can basically dismiss everything but our individual experience.

Across the regions (local and global), between friends, acquaintances, cohorts, peers, coworkers, and work contacts, I have found that there are quite a few messaging apps in use. Some used more than others however it really doesn’t matter; I still need to communicate with them. As a result I have to either install multiple apps (which I do) or try to set a specific app use up front. I found that having to use multiple messaging apps is not an uncommon occurrence. What is missing is an app where I can consolidate all my messages .

Adding RCS handling into iMessage would be a win for the user.

 

[Black Magic]

In most European countries people use WhatsApp and FB Messenger. Doesn't matter what people say.

This is true. I use iMessage exclusively and can confirm that WhatsApp and FB Messenger are huge overseas. Those apps wouldn't be available if they weren't generating money.

 

[d686546s]

Across the regions (local and global), between friends, acquaintances, cohorts, peers, coworkers, and work contacts, I have found that there are quite a few messaging apps in use. Some used more than others however it really doesn’t matter; I still need to communicate with them. As a result I have to either install multiple apps (which I do) or try to set a specific app use up front. I found that having to use multiple messaging apps is not an uncommon occurrence. What is missing is an app where I can consolidate all my messages .

Adding RCS handling into iMessage would be a win for the user.

Yeah I'm absolutely with you on that although I have my doubts about how much of an impact RCS would actually have in places other than the US, where I think adoption would actually be significant given how important SMS still seems to be.

If Apple were to adopt end-to-end encrypted RCS and the rollout on Android were to continue, I can see myself trying to use it more. But, I know quite a few people who have basically already consolidated all their messages into a single app. My wife uses WhatsApp with all her friends and family, and they use it with all their friends and family, and they use it to communicate with businesses etc (Latin America).

It's not impossible, but it would require a massive shift just to arrive at the status quo.

 

[RapTech]

In our country, the Philippines, there are very very VERY few iMessage users. A lot of people like around 99.8% use Facebook Messenger and among those users, around 85% also use Viber. That's at least in my experience based on the people around me. So the major messaging apps are those two. iMessage today is like what BBM used to be back when it existed---only for the select FEW.

 

[tgwaste]

In our country, the Philippines, there are very very VERY few iMessage users. A lot of people like around 99.8% use Facebook Messenger and among those users, around 85% also use Viber. That's at least in my experience based on the people around me. So the major messaging apps are those two. iMessage today is like what BBM used to be back when it existed---only for the select FEW.

iMessage is used mostly in the USA and I dont see that changing any time soon.

 

[justperry]

In our country, the Philippines, there are very very VERY few iMessage users. A lot of people like around 99.8% use Facebook Messenger and among those users, around 85% also use Viber. That's at least in my experience based on the people around me. So the major messaging apps are those two. iMessage today is like what BBM used to be back when it existed---only for the select FEW.

As if the Philippines is a majority...LOL.

Been there, lots of beautiful places but your comment is laughable.