Google Urges Apple Not to 'Drop the Ball' on Fixing Messaging in New Billboard Pushing RCS

[haruhiko]

The U.S. has a weird insistence of using SMS-like platforms. The rest of the world has moved on.

 

[Iconoclysm]

Google uses their own non-standard version of RCS in all their apps. This version forces all messages to go through Google's own servers, which allows them to track all conversations (to/from, time, and more) which is hugely valuable to their ad business. That's why they're pushing this so hard. Not only do they get that data from most Android users, but they want to get it from iOS users too (who statistically text more than Android users).

Additionally, RCS in its standard form may or may not use your telco providers servers. So you have to really look into it to know where your messages are being routed. This means different privacy policies depending on who it's going through. It's a privacy nightmare. And if your phone roams or is something like Xfinity Mobile (which uses Verizon and other towers), then it could go through any number of different servers. Travel to another country? They may relay your messages through their own servers (where with iMessage, you know they always go through Apples servers and no one else's before heading to your friend).

Additionally, Apple will need to route their RCS messages to Google, which is something they’re likely hung up on.

 

[Black Magic]

I'm actually with Google on this one. There's no reason that's beneficial to Apple's customers to not have RCS on iPhones. Or release iMessage on Android.

I don't think there is any feature request list that exist out there for iOS 17 asking for RCS. In fact, I think many Apple users would be pissed to find out Apple diverted resource to focus on that feature versus tweaking or working on damn near anything else.

Side bar: The new generation mostly uses Apple iPhones. Android is dying.

 

[Iconoclysm]

The U.S. has a weird insistence of using SMS-like platforms. The rest of the world has moved on.

RCS is not SMS like, but it can fall back to SMS - the world surely hasn’t moved on, only Europe, and only because they trust Meta to be the arbiter of all of their messaging…which is definitely not a basket I’d put my eggs in.

 

[rorschach]

Apple talks a lot about Privacy as a differentiator for their devices. They should live up to it and start messaging through RCS when the other person is using it on their end.

While it's not a part of RCS standard (yet?), encryption can be enabled through the app as Google has done with their Messages app.

Google enables end-to-end encryption for Android’s default SMS/RCS app

Both users need Google Messages, RCS needs to be on, and it’s for 1:1 chats only.

arstechnica.com

and it's being tested for group chats

Google Messages appears to be in early testing on end-to-end encryption on group chats

Google Messages seems to be in early testing on end-to-end encryption for RCS messages sent in a group chat.

9to5google.com

In order for Apple to use Google’s proprietary features, they would have to go through Google’s servers. Not going to happen.

 

[alexandr]

FaceTime was opened up completely then a lawsuit shut the whole thing down. Nothing Apple could do. Also, Zoom has a foothold but it’s nowhere near what Skype once was. If MS didn’t drop the ball there, Skype would have prevented Zoom from existing.

Didn't know about the whole lawsuit thing. Well, yea — if they didn't try to shift Skype in the direction of Snapchat...

 

[Michael Scrip]

It is bad for the consumer when large corporations like Apple refuse such a simple fix in the name of profits. Do I blame them? I can't say that I do, it makes sense that Apple doesn't have any interest in fixing texting. But at the same time, I can't get behind something that ultimately only hurts the consumer, and this does.

Texting iOS to Android is horrible but it doesn't have to be that way, and it shouldn't.

But let's pretend iMessage never existed.

Texting would still be horrible today... because SMS is horrible. Pixelated photos and videos are because SMS wasn't designed for that.

At least Apple came up with their own solution for their own users.

While RCS has supposedly been around since 2012... it obviously hasn't had wide adoption in the past decade. My carrier, Verizon, only started supporting RCS in 2018.

And honestly... I don't think anyone even knows what it is.

In the meantime... people have moved on to other 3rd-party messaging platforms. I don't think "texting" is as big a problem as people say it is.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[satchmo]

In fact, Apple CEO Tim Cook recently said that RCS is not a priority. "I don't hear our users asking that we put a lot of energy in on that at this point," said Cook.

Tim must have selective hearing. He probably didn't hear users asking for an iPhone with USB-C either.

 

[pianostar9]

Nobody else noticed the image says the ball ”dropped on 2022” when it’s 2023?

 

[Azathoth123]

You really have to be foolish if you think Google wants to spend all this advertising money to pitch RCS for the good of the consumer 😂 there is a reason Google is pushing their RCS protocol since carriers are not doing it and I can almost promise you it isn’t just for your own benefit

Edit: adding also think about how hard this is being pushed when it wasn’t done for all their other failed messaging methods

This might enlighten us, RCS ads

Rampant spam has forced Google to turn off RCS ads in India

Not a great customer experience.

www.theverge.com

and

Google Messages users in India are reportedly drowning in ads

Including ads for gambling sites and personal loans.

www.theverge.com

 

[FastLaneJB]

I'm actually with Google on this one. There's no reason that's beneficial to Apple's customers to not have RCS on iPhones. Or release iMessage on Android.

I agree and ultimately probably if Apple moved quicker on things like this they might not ended up being forced via the EU’s Digital Markets Act to potentially open up iMessage.

I suspect to see RCS in iOS maybe in the next version not because Apple wants to do it but because laws are coming to force them to open up somewhat.

 

[bryanck]

Google should also not "drop the ball" on opening up Google to alternative advertising exchanges. Seems a bit short sighted of them to demand this, they should be happy with the massive monopoly they have in online advertising.

 

[cthompson94]

This might enlighten us, RCS ads

Rampant spam has forced Google to turn off RCS ads in India

Not a great customer experience.

www.theverge.com

and

Google Messages users in India are reportedly drowning in ads

Including ads for gambling sites and personal loans.

www.theverge.com

Exactly! And that’s just one instance, everyone knows Google collects data and to think they don’t have a back door to their RCS protocol is crazy.

 

[Minato1990]

Desperation bahahahah

 

[NightFlight]

I don't think there is any feature request list that exist out there for iOS 17 asking for RCS. In fact, I think many Apple users would be pissed to find out Apple diverted resource to focus on that feature versus tweaking or working on damn near anything else.

Side bar: The new generation mostly uses Apple iPhones. Android is dying.

Apple users would be pissed to find out that their messaging with people other than Apple products is a much better experience? Wrong.

Android has like 70% market share. It isn't going anywhere.

 

[NightFlight]

Tim must have selective hearing. He probably didn't hear users asking for an iPhone with USB-C either.

Tim Cook is a cancer to Apple and their users that aren't stockholders.

Zero innovation, maximum profit.

 

[bommai]

It is bad for the consumer when large corporations like Apple refuse such a simple fix in the name of profits. Do I blame them? I can't say that I do, it makes sense that Apple doesn't have any interest in fixing texting. But at the same time, I can't get behind something that ultimately only hurts the consumer, and this does.

Texting iOS to Android is horrible but it doesn't have to be that way, and it shouldn't.

I would rather Apple rollout iMessage for android.

 

[Black Magic]

Apple users would be pissed to find out that their messaging with people other than Apple products is a much better experience? Wrong.

Android has like 70% market share. It isn't going anywhere.

Most Apple users don't care about RCS. Run a poll here and see how that works out for you. Texting works good enough with Android and that 70% market share is mostly overseas.

 

[Azathoth123]

Here’s an even better insight on why Google wants Apple to adopt RCS, to send us ads. Text someone via RCS, get an ad in the reply! From Android Authority. Read the whole article

I enabled RCS on Google Messages and all I got was ads (Update: Google responds)

If ads have started to appear in your Google Messages app, you're not alone. The RCS messaging standard may be responsible.

www.androidauthority.com

 

[inkswamp]

It is bad for the consumer when large corporations like Apple refuse such a simple fix in the name of profits. Do I blame them? I can't say that I do, it makes sense that Apple doesn't have any interest in fixing texting. But at the same time, I can't get behind something that ultimately only hurts the consumer, and this does.

Texting iOS to Android is horrible but it doesn't have to be that way, and it shouldn't.

Explain how Apple profits by not fixing an issue that doesn't affect its users.

And how do you know the issue is caused by Apple? Seems to me if I'm able to get my iPhone photos off my iPhone and iCloud just fine on my Mac and PC as well as on other iOS devices, maybe the issue is Android and Google.

 

[jz0309]

They are persistent, gotta giv em that…
Apple won’t oblige tho

 

[Macintosh Quadra 840av]

RCS is not SMS like, but it can fall back to SMS - the world surely hasn’t moved on, only Europe, and only because they trust Meta to be the arbiter of all of their messaging…which is definitely not a basket I’d put my eggs in.

Always funny when Europeans talk about how we're so behind using iMessage still, while they love WhatsApp. I'll pass on that. I don't want Meta and Facebook collecting who I chat with, when, where, and more. I don't need to tie myself to a specific app.

 

[NightFlight]

Most Apple users don't care about RCS. Run a poll here and see how that works out for you. Texting works good enough with Android and that 70% market share is mostly overseas.

Good enough doesn't mean good. A better user experience is a better user experience, period. Run a poll? Why would I care about what a bunch of rabid Apple Fanboys care about something that their company doesn't care about? This forum is an echo chamber for the most part. Anything Google here is automatically crap.

Moving the goalposts? Overseas doesn't matter or something? 70% is 70%.

 

[TigerNike23]

Google wants Apple to use a “standard” backed by Google?

Wasn’t AMP supposed to be a “standard”?

 

[BrownyQ]

Tim must have selective hearing. He probably didn't hear users asking for an iPhone with USB-C either.

A vocal minority existing online isn't worth his time. Not when the marketing machine can teach the masses the appeal of MagSafe as a replacement for finicky plug-in cables.