Simple, they keep the blue bubbles all to themselves, just look at this thread and how many people want the blue bubbles. Look at Google nearly begging apple to provide the blue bubbles to android users.
Another reason, they are masters of their own domain, they can add/remove features that they choose too and allow enhancements to the imessage platform that benefits only apple customers. Why develop something that benefits their competitors?
Now your turn. You're the one who said
RCS is an industry-standard protocol that allows for more advanced messaging capabilities like read receipts, typing indicators, and high-quality media sharing. By adopting RCS, Apple would enable iPhone users to communicate seamlessly with Android users and other platforms. I don't understand why people desire to have handicapped conversations with Android users over SMS when RCS would fix quite a few issues. Embracing RCS would promote a more inclusive and open communication ecosystem, benefiting everyone regardless of their choice of smartphone.
RCS offers an array of features that could significantly enhance the user experience for iPhone users as well. By incorporating RCS, Apple could introduce new messaging features and improve the overall communication experience for all its customers. This would not only be beneficial for Apple users, but would also create healthy competition in the messaging space, leading to better offerings from various platforms.
It's obvious that iMessage is amazing, and other people want to have the "blue bubbles" experience. By implementing RCS, Apple can cater to their customers' preferences while also ensuring they don't feel excluded when interacting with friends and family using Android devices.
While keeping iMessage exclusive might provide a short-term competitive edge, embracing RCS could offer long-term advantages for Apple. By making their messaging platform more open and cross-platform, they would foster a larger user base and gain increased user loyalty. I'm certainly not going to jump ship to Android because RCS was adopted by Apple. It will simply make communication with friends and family with Android devices far less painful out of the box. This approach could also lead to more significant revenue opportunities through services and apps that integrate with a broader user base.
Apple has the potential to set industry standards and encourage more companies to adopt RCS. What Apple does, everyone else tends to follow. Embracing a standardized protocol would foster cooperation and collaboration among different companies, creating a more cohesive and interconnected messaging landscape for users worldwide.
The tech landscape is continually evolving, and customer preferences may shift over time. By embracing RCS and evolving alongside industry trends, Apple can maintain its reputation as an innovative and customer-centric company that adapts to changing user needs. Apple's stubbornness is not benefitting anyone but Apple. And this constant cheerleading of this behavior helps no one.
Implementing RCS on the iPhone would benefit both Apple and its users by fostering a more open and interconnected messaging ecosystem. It would enhance the user experience, meet customer demand, and contribute to a more inclusive digital communication space. By supporting industry standards, Apple can continue to lead and innovate while also ensuring its customers have access to cutting-edge messaging features and cross-platform communication. SMS is atrocious and needs to die a horrible death. The only reason people hate SMS so much is because it's insanely archaic.