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

[gnomeisland]

Is Apple "refusing" to support it or just waiting to see if Google will actually see it through? Google doesn't have a good track record for messaging apps so adopting their standards seems like a bad idea. If carriers get behind RCS and it actually becomes a thing then Apple will support it.

It isn't as robust as iMessage and won't ever replace iMessage so unless/until it becomes commonplace it doesn't add a lot of obvious value to most iPhone users.

 

[LiquidJay]

Americans seem to use "blue chat bubbles" as some sort of class differentiator and a bragging right, so Apple will hold onto that selling point for the foreseeable future.

In Europe, WhatsApp is standard. It's not ideal (Facebook owned), but at least its available on every phone.

Welcome to America!

 

[_Spinn_]

It would be nice if Apple adopted RCS. That way I have a secure way to message my Android friends. I know we could use an app for messaging but they want to use Facebook Messenger and I want to use Signal. Since we can't agree we just fall back to using SMS.

 

[nwcs]

I have never used the "If Steve Jobs was around" cliche before but I will now. Jobs would write a 1-2 page dissertation on why he thinks Apple will/will not adopt RCS and illustrate whatever issues he has with it. This is what Apple needs to do: clarify their position and make a public statement to that effect. There's no need to maintain a silent vigil on something like this.

 

[nwcs]

Americans seem to use "blue chat bubbles" as some sort of class differentiator and a bragging right, so Apple will hold onto that selling point for the foreseeable future.

In Europe, WhatsApp is standard. It's not ideal (Facebook owned), but at least its available on every phone.

Quite a stereotype you are maintaining there. Not sure how you came to that conclusion anyway.

 

[LiquidJay]

According to Statistica WhatApp is the most used messaging app in the world by a big margin. Only going on personal experience on myself and maybe 100+ friends I interact with WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger are the two ways we communicate. I have an iPhone and I don't see what all the "I stay with IOS because of Messenger" argument is all about, it's nothing special and is limited when it comes to communicating with my non-Apple friends. Apple doesn't like to play nice with the other children.

View attachment 1859706

my counter would 'web link previews' ... WhatsApp has a problem in that department. Nothing worst then sending a friend a link with no preview lol!! But I have WhatsApp ( though using Signal more to detach from Zuck )

 

[1129846]

Is Apple "refusing" to support it or just waiting to see if Google will actually see it through? Google doesn't have a good track record for messaging apps so adopting their standards seems like a bad idea. If carriers get behind RCS and it actually becomes a thing then Apple will support it.

It isn't as robust as iMessage and won't ever replace iMessage so unless/until it becomes commonplace it doesn't add a lot of obvious value to most iPhone users.

The problem with Apple taking the wait and see approach is that it is not going to push the much needed replacement of SMS which is not secure. Apple getting on board with RCS is that push some major force behind it as Apple can instantly put nearly 50% of the phones out there supporting it. Google can then turn in even more pressure as it gets critical mass.

Yes I prefer iMessage but I still have to text with Android users and RCS would also allow say my bank to be more secure at sending information.

 

[LiquidJay]

Just extended the list...

✅ Third-party Payment
🔲 Third-party AppStore
🔲 Sideloading
🔲 OpenNFC
🔲 Different Browser Engines
🔲 Enforce Messages RCS communication

Just a matter of time till the other check boxes become ✅, too.
Laws to the rescue...

lol .. how long for just one check box. We could be talking decades. And don't forget new boxes added !!!!!

 

[ian87w]

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.

Some S. Korean carriers actually shuttered RCS years ago, letting Kakaotalk to be the "standard" for messaging.
And we still have not counted how the Chinese OEMs (Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Realme, etc) don't have support for RCS on their default SMS app. I'm sure there are more WeChat users than people using RCS.

If Google wanted RCS to be widely accepted, they should require it for Android certification. At least that way, it's already on people's phones. Talking to Apple is pointless when majority of Android handsets don't even have it on.

 

[ian87w]

The problem with Apple taking the wait and see approach is that it is not going to push the much needed replacement of SMS which is not secure. Apple getting on board with RCS is that push some major force behind it as Apple can instantly put nearly 50% of the phones out there supporting it. Google can then turn in even more pressure as it gets critical mass.

Yes I prefer iMessage but I still have to text with Android users and RCS would also allow say my bank to be more secure at sending information.

Google should clean its own house first. Considering majority of Android phones don't even support it on their default SMS app, it's hypocritical to point out at Apple. Google can do it if they wanted to, by making it a requirement for Android certification. But they don't.

 

[ian87w]

SMS works with all phones, including non-smart phones (like many older people have, any children should have instead of smart phones). RCS is probably nice but can only be adopted when it is backward compatible with SMS and low-end non-smart phones.

RCS, just like iMessage, will fallback to SMS if the recipient doesn't support it. It would be nice if KaiOS can support RCS though.

 

[Kar98]

Americans seem to use "blue chat bubbles" as some sort of class differentiator and a bragging right, so Apple will hold onto that selling point for the foreseeable future.

In Europe, WhatsApp is standard. It's not ideal (Facebook owned), but at least its available on every phone.

So is SMS and potentially RCS. Zuck ****erberg.

 

[eliteoOSX27]

Americans seem to use "blue chat bubbles" as some sort of class differentiator and a bragging right, so Apple will hold onto that selling point for the foreseeable future.

In Europe, WhatsApp is standard. It's not ideal (Facebook owned), but at least its available on every phone.

Blue bubbles are wayyy better than green. Whatsapp sucks. I refuse to use it.

 

[vipergts2207]

Should we be surprised that Apple refuses to make the iOS user experience objectively better just to make Android’s worse as well? Just another example where Apple doesn’t prioritize the user experience above all else.

 

[Icewarm]

It truly amazes me how many people responded in this forum judging that Apple must be doing something nefarious, monopolistic, etc. The article presents only one piece of information - that Google has mad an offer of something to Apple. It does not contain information from Apple or other source that would explain why Apple has chosen not to go with RCS. And yet, so many responses about evil Apple.

 

[zorinlynx]

Americans seem to use "blue chat bubbles" as some sort of class differentiator and a bragging right, so Apple will hold onto that selling point for the foreseeable future.

In Europe, WhatsApp is standard. It's not ideal (Facebook owned), but at least its available on every phone.

Has anyone actually witnessed this themselves and not just seen it in a meme? Personally I don't give a **** if someone is green or blue in my messages. As long as we can communicate that's what matters.

Not only that, but the "barrier to entry" to get iMessage isn't that high. Older iPhones do it fine and are dirt cheap. If people really see it as a "bragging right" that's pretty damn ridiculous.

 

[chachawpi]

It truly amazes me how many people responded in this forum judging that Apple must be doing something nefarious, monopolistic, etc. The article presents only one piece of information - that Google has mad an offer of something to Apple. It does not contain information from Apple or other source that would explain why Apple has chosen not to go with RCS. And yet, so many responses about evil Apple.

Apple is literally the only holdout.

Verizon Finally Embraces RCS, Now the Lone Holdout Is Apple

The carrier will switch to Android Messages as the default in 2022. All that's left is to get Apple on board.

gizmodo.com

 

[jamezr]

As a fellow European, I'm not entirely sure I believe this, unless you have some statistics to back it up with?

I've never used WhatsApp, by the way.

yep here are the stats you are looking for

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

According to Statistica WhatApp is the most used messaging app in the world by a big margin. Only going on personal experience on myself and maybe 100+ friends I interact with WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger are the two ways we communicate. I have an iPhone and I don't see what all the "I stay...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[remington79]

Apple unwilling to adopt RCS and won't let anyone else play with iMessage, so it's the end-user that suffers with lack of secure messaging. We'll either have to sell our souls to Facebook Inc and use WhatsApp or disown any 'friends' who use Android I guess..

There’s Signal and Telegram.

 

[SpringKid]

yep here are the stats you are looking for

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

According to Statistica WhatApp is the most used messaging app in the world by a big margin. Only going on personal experience on myself and maybe 100+ friends I interact with WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger are the two ways we communicate. I have an iPhone and I don't see what all the "I stay...

forums.macrumors.com

Which, as I already pointed out, shows that more people don't use WhatsApp. 💁🏼‍♂️

 

[ian87w]

Apple is literally the only holdout.

Verizon Finally Embraces RCS, Now the Lone Holdout Is Apple

The carrier will switch to Android Messages as the default in 2022. All that's left is to get Apple on board.

gizmodo.com

Err no, Everyone is a holdout. Only Google and recently Samsung that provide RCS support by preinstalling Google Messages. The Chinese OEMs don’t, and they’re the bulk of Android phones out there around the world. And majority of carriers around the world don’t explicitly support it either.

 

[one more]

What’s the point? There are enough encrypted cross-platform messaging platforms already that work rather well.

 

[jamezr]

Which, as I already pointed out, shows that more people don't use WhatsApp. 💁🏼‍♂️

Sure whatever...most widely used messaging app in Europe or worldwide is WhatsApp....

 

[BuffaloTF]

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.

Carrier participation is exactly what Google’s implementation circumvents. The problem with that is it requires knowingly downloading the new app to use it in many cases. That’s also a fault of Google’s, who capitulated control of Android to the carriers in its infancy. Too many carriers can dictate the pre-loaded apps across many OEM devices. They’ve been making great strides in that regard to try and get OEMs to use this app as the default.

Apple has no such handcuffs, then joining this RCS deployment would be a really big deal in getting away from the Facebook stranglehold on messages. But then the question becomes, are you trading to a better situation on data privacy?

 

[Sean.]

I’m all for this. It’s time imo to get rid of sms as main fallback from iMessage and use RCS instead. Would love to send a high quality video/photo from my iPhone to an android device without using a third party app.
I’m in the US and around my area it’s either iMessage or SMS being used to message most people.