'Green Bubbles and Blue Bubbles Want to Be Together' Says Samsung Ad Pushing Apple to Adopt RCS

[coolfactor]

lol RCS is ****ing stupid.

if you *really* think RCS is a good idea, you have no idea what you're talking about.

RCS is currently the Android version of iMessage. Both require data to operate, and that's where Google, and now Samsung, is misleading consumers. They are saying that RCS is a replacement for SMS, but it's not. It supplements SMS in the exact same way that iMessage does. Apple knows this. If anyone wants a good cross-platform texting experience, several apps already exist (WhatsApp, Viber, Signal etc.), so why bolt the flawed RCS onto iPhone when it really adds nothing of value?

This is a terrible ad. I would not know what it's talking about without someone explaining it to me. The average non-techie consumer won't have a clue either.

 

[BuffaloTF]

Right. They can leave it green and still improve the experience for iPhone users, plus increase security for "green" messages, too.

RCS won't be superior to the iMessage experience; it will be superior to SMS. So iMessage will still attract Android users if they want the full experience.

It does not increase security for "green" messages. Unless you use Google Messages, the app, your messages are in clear text for the world (figuratively) to see. And in order to get Google Messages, Google - not Apple - needs to release their app... which they could do yesterday.

 

[coolfactor]

Care to elaborate? I'm genuinely curious how RCS support is a worse idea than what we have now?

RCS is largely Google-controlled at the moment, not the "open standard" that they want you to think it is. Adoption is growing, but support is not universal across providers that have adopted the technology.

RCS requires data. Google keeps leaving this small detail out of its marketing messages. SMS does not require data, and so many consumers are still in the habit of turning off data to keep costs down, and relying on WiFi connections for data.

RCS has spotty support for its different capabilities, depending on if providers/carriers are keeping updated to the latest version. Encrypted chat for group messages was only just recently added, and I believe that encryption only works if -every- participant in the chat can support the encryption. If just one does not, the whole group remains unencrypted. (correct me if I'm wrong).

RCS is inefficient in how it encodes messages. The JSON payload structure is messy and bloated.

I am in favour of Apple adopting RCS, but only after Apple joins the working group and contributes improvements, insisting on full end-to-end encryption for every type of conversation (one-to-one and group), etc. Sadly, I do think that Apple is resisting making this move because iMessage remains a competitive advantage, so it's more profitable to leverage it against RCS.

 

[nutmac]

Why is everyone so against rcs on here? All it would do is improve the texting experience with android users… it wouldn’t hurt current user experience in any way. It might get some people to leave iOS if they don’t feel locked in anymore, which I get from apple’s standpoint, but that’s a pretty bad reason from a consumer perspective.

While that is a fair criticism, you are overlooking at the fact that outside US and few other countries, text messaging (SMS, RCS, or iMessage) is essentially dead. It is occasionally used in some countries to confirm deliveries or reservations, but the general public has embraced app-based solutions like WhatsApp, WeChat, Telegram, Kakao Talk, and LINE.

Apple needs to invest a quite bit of work for not a lot of gain.

 

[R2DHue]

Samsung today joined Google in attempting to convince Apple to adopt the Rich Communication Services or RCS messaging standard that Google has been pushing.

In a short ad that's a riff on Romeo and Juliet, Samsung features two smartphone interfaces texting each other. "Juliet" is the iPhone in the metaphor and her parents (aka Apple) won't allow for the adoption of RCS. "What did green ever do to them? We're bubbles too," laments the "Romeo" Android smartphone. "And literally everyone wants us to be together. Ugh," writes Juliet.

It's ultimately a bit of a confusing ad, but Samsung makes it clear with the title of the video: "Green bubbles and blue bubbles want to be together." Samsung also includes the "Help Apple #GetTheMessage" tagline and hashtag that Google has been using for its RCS campaign.

Google has been hounding Apple about adopting RCS for several years now using ads, billboards, websites, social media campaigns, and more, but Apple has refused.

RCS, or Rich Communication Services, is a communication protocol designed by and adopted by Google. Google has been pushing Apple to implement support for RCS, but Apple devices continue to support the older SMS protocol. Google claims that Apple is responsible for all the issues that Android and iPhone users have texting one another, including lack of encryption, broken group chats, pixelated pictures and videos, and the green bubbles.

Apple CEO Tim Cook in September 2022 said that RCS is not a priority for Apple and that it is not a feature that iPhone users are asking for.

Article Link: 'Green Bubbles and Blue Bubbles Want to Be Together' Says Samsung Ad Pushing Apple to Adopt RCS

Google and Samsung are acting desperate.

 

[R2DHue]

And sounds like a lot of work that Apple really doesn’t need to do. As you noted there are already alternatives - why would they implement someone else’s protocol into their messaging app, or waste the time developing their own version from scratch?

There’s nothing in it for Apple and everything in it for Google/Android and Samsung.

 

[dwreck]

It would be so funny if Apple adopted RCS support but kept the bubbles green

 

[jntdroid]

It does not increase security for "green" messages. Unless you use Google Messages, the app, your messages are in clear text for the world (figuratively) to see. And in order to get Google Messages, Google - not Apple - needs to release their app... which they could do yesterday.

I thought they had gotten past that "hurdle". TIL. Thanks

 

[jntdroid]

It would be so funny if Apple adopted RCS support but kept the bubbles green

I think it's pretty much a guarantee that if they adopted it, they would absolutely keep it green.

 

[EM2013]

It's never going to happen, not in the US anyway. Unless Apple was forced by some law or regulation, which I don't see happening.

I’m sure the EU is hard at work on this.

 

[NT1440]

I’m sure the EU is hard at work on this.

They’re going to be busy figuring out how to pay for heating this winter. Maybe next year.

 

[CarAnalogy]

If Google/Samsung were serious, perhaps they’d tone down the consumer ads and start co-developing a mutually accepted alternative. Matter is a great example of how an alliance can be built between global competitors (Google, Apple, Amazon, etc).

Apple has zero incentive to switch to a protocol developed by Google. The solution is simple: build a new one.

That said, I think Tim Cook is right when he says it’s a low priority and iPhone users aren’t asking for it.

Standards.

The GSMA published the Universal Profile [for RCS] in November 2016.

This is not a Google standard. This is the network cartel as usual failing to get its act together, Google making yet another attempt at a messaging service, and Apple having no financial motivation to change a thing.

 

[BBCWatcher]

How about if Apple simply opens up the Messages app with an API so that Google, Meta (WhatsApp), Signal, and everyone else can implement plug-ins? Users could then send and receive messages in one place without hopping from app to app with different/peculiar user interfaces. Apple then doesn’t have to support 28 different messaging protocols — or even 3. Users can color code message bubbles however they wish (it’d be a setting available in Messages for the plug-in).

 

[BuffaloTF]

Standards.

The GSMA published the Universal Profile [for RCS] in November 2016.

This is not a Google standard. This is the network cartel as usual failing to get its act together, Google making yet another attempt at a messaging service, and Apple having no financial motivation to change a thing.

This is a Google standard. This requires Google Jibe. And if you want encryption, you need to use Google Messages. This is over the top of RCS. It's Google RCS. Let's start with the base facts here.

 

[marzbarz]

That's the argument of a 10 year old.

This argument itself is childish. Do better.

 

[SurferPup]

I have more trust in iMessage privacy being only in the Apple ecosystem.

 

[Lovekamp]

Tim Cook has it right: I’m an iPhone user and I could not possibly care less if Android users get blue bubbles or RCS. I actually quite like it the current way; I know at a glance which people are outside my security circle and should be shunned.

 

[rhaezorblue]

No, we actually don't. Dont bash Apple for 20 years and now cry like babies cuz Apple won't play with you. I swear they are like children. F right off

 

[Treq]

Google should promote Google Chat (not rcs). Maybe partner with Samsung that as well.

Google Chat is cross platform. It works across iOS, Android, Web, etc.

It uses your existing google account.

It has more/better functions like an edit button, high quality images and high quality video etc.

That would be even worse. One of the main arguments against using google's implementation of RCS is because it would increase google's ability to spy on users. Your solution just hands google people's data. Just an awful idea. iMessage can sent messages to every phone that can receive texts. For now, if they have android, they get an SMS or MMS. When RCS becomes less a data mine for google, then apple will adopt it. I have done everything I can to excise google from my life entirely due to their evil business practices. I will never willingly use any of their products or services. I don't use google search, gmail, google docs, android, chrome, or basically anything connected to google. I'm not going to use google chat spyware just to connect with someone who can't be bothered deal with a simple text message or a low res mms.

 

[dandyryan]

Google should promote Google Chat (not rcs). Maybe partner with Samsung that as well.

Google Chat is cross platform. It works across iOS, Android, Web, etc.

It uses your existing google account.

It has more/better functions like an edit button, high quality images and high quality video etc.

LMAO google can try to establish a new messaging standard all they want but we're all familiar with their history of flops 😂😂

the way google had DECADES to leverage their user base and establish a messaging standard but FAILED over and over again, and now they want Apple to bail them out bc they know green bubbles = trashy

 

[jntdroid]

...I swear they are like children. F right off

 

[flexwithmarius]

Ah yes, the haves and have-nots. It’s crystal clear who holds the upper hand here.

It’s clear that Samsung/Android needs Apple more than Apple needs them. Besides, of course, to steal their customers. And I love to see it.

 

[frownface]

cmon eu laws; do your thing.

 

[McWetty]

Stop trying to make RCS happen. It isn’t going to happen. 🙄

But it’s so fetch!

 

[segfaultdotorg]

Lame. Google just needs to offer whatever it takes to license iMessage.