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Google Executive Wants to Help Apple Make Texts Between Android and iPhone Users More Secure
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Thank you for a very mature and insightful response, MacRumors user Tech watcher.
Why would anyone prefer RCS which requires mobile carrier participation over a messenger of their choice that works everywhere? RCS is a blatant attempt by the carriers to stay relevant as SMS monetisation ran dry. They want a replacement, something to sell to their customers on top of providing internet connection.
There's no point for Apple to ever support that. There's no point for anyone to use that. Yes, it is an upgrade from SMS, but it is a downgrade from internet messengers.
There's no point for Apple to ever support that. There's no point for anyone to use that. Yes, it is an upgrade from SMS, but it is a downgrade from internet messengers.
What I think @cliveren13 is referring to is, if you move from using an iPhone to using an Android device then you have problems.
iMessage works by maintaining a list of known devices in the background. If your friend has sent you an iMessage in the past their device will default to that in the future. If you move to Android then your mobile can no longer receive iMessage but their device may try to reach you that way. You have to ‘de-list‘ with iMessage to fix that.
The problem is worst when you have a device other than your mobile which can still receive iMessage (e.g. an iPad). In this scenario iMessage believes it has successfully delivered the messages but the recipient’s mobile can’t receive it of course.
That does not mean Google or carriers can't still add an Ad payload to the message.
And since when do the carriers do anything, if there is not a financial incentive?
Just another attack surface/vector and spam messages.
RCS vulnerabilities can help a hacker take control of your bank account
A German security firm has found some vulnerabilities related to Rich Communication Service (RCS), the next generartion of wireless messaging. Hackers can hijack a one time password and change the address of a bank account.
www.phonearena.com
According to this article, major carriers have dropped plans for RCS
Cross Platform Messaging Service Plan Canceled by Mobile Carriers
About eighteen months ago, a number of big mobile carriers got together to create the 'Cross-Carrier Messaging Initiative.' Their goal was to roll out a Rich Communication Services (RCS) platform designed to allow for text messaging across a variety of...
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The big omission of Apple/Cook 
was not to buy WhatsApp to join the two worlds of iOS and Android with a powerful messager – they left this large field to dominate Europe to Facebook 
Mindcuffs looking just at US market.
This cannot be repaired anymore...
was not to buy WhatsApp to join the two worlds of iOS and Android with a powerful messager – they left this large field to dominate Europe to Facebook Mindcuffs looking just at US market.
This cannot be repaired anymore...
Yep that's why we need new regulations, else we'll be using SMS 5000 AD for cross platform communication.
I've lived in Finland, Sweden, Malta and now live in a Central European country and everyone has always used WhatsApp.
Nobody uses anything else. Even if they have iPhones they refuse to use Messages.
Nobody uses anything else. Even if they have iPhones they refuse to use Messages.
The problem with instant messaging to be solved isn't interoperability between iOS and Android. The problem is attribution, or more precisely, putting an end to the ease with which text messages can be spoofed, and the scams perpetrated by organized crime as a result. If RCS can prevent an evil-doer from pretending to be the fraud department at a bank, or anyone I might otherwise trust, then I'm all in. If it can't, then it's trying to fix the wrong problem.
Given the recent whistleblower news… anyone using WhatsApp… Good luck!
It's the same in the Netherlands. WhatsApp is the default messaging platform.
Messages still has by far the best and most entertaining implementation of stickers. Never understood why Facebook messenger doesn’t work like that
In my experience in the UK everyone uses WhatsApp. Anywhoo as a consumer I want my life as easy (and secure) as possible so open standards please.
I’m German-Italian and I don’t know anyone, even seniors, who don’t use Whatsapp with some small exceptions from people who don’t want to have anything to do with Facebook.
Those use Signal and/or Telegram.
Yeah, top two apps are owned by Facebook. No thanks. Just because it's free, doesn't make it good. I've used WhatsApp briefly, I don't understand the hype AT ALL. It's very dated. About the only thing I understand about it, it's free and allows easy communication FREELY with anyone else. That's about it. Same with FBM. FREE and easy communication.
For not only you and your friends/family, also for Facebook's viewing pleasure.
No, no and NO
I also don't believe it's as widely used as some on here make it out to be. I know 0 people who use it.
I don't recall Apple ever publicly stating they refused to support RCS. Has anyone seen them say that, or is Google just stirring up the waters trying to put itself in the headlines taking pot shots at Apple?
With VERY few exceptions, Apple doesn't talk about upcoming products under development. If they're working on RCS it will be announced at a keynote or with the release of the OSes.
Remember, Apple can't just roll this out in iOS, it has to be iOS, iPadOS, HomePod, macOS, watchOS...
And it has to interoperate with all the other services. Doing this may not seem trivial but doing it "right" I'm sure is.
So... I don't know that Apple is or isn't planning RCS but it seems like a whole lot of other people know Apple isn't. Did I miss something?
With VERY few exceptions, Apple doesn't talk about upcoming products under development. If they're working on RCS it will be announced at a keynote or with the release of the OSes.
Remember, Apple can't just roll this out in iOS, it has to be iOS, iPadOS, HomePod, macOS, watchOS...
And it has to interoperate with all the other services. Doing this may not seem trivial but doing it "right" I'm sure is.
So... I don't know that Apple is or isn't planning RCS but it seems like a whole lot of other people know Apple isn't. Did I miss something?
I'm Swedish as well and in the social groups I am in we use iMessage exclusively and are happy with that. But FB Messenger is certainly the more popular overall,
Based on this chart and the proclamations of all the European users in this chat that everyone uses WhatsApp or FB messenger shouldn’t Google be trying to convince Facebook to adopt RCS instead of Apple who has a minority share of the messaging market? Why are they calling out Apple other than for the publicity?
The three major US carriers are going to use RCS by default on Android phones soon. Basically in the US, Apple would just need to work with Google to get RCS going.