RCS in iOS 18: What You Need to Know About Apple's Android Messaging Overhaul

[Abazigal]

The only advantage for closed ecosystem is to manufacture's advantage. Once you are in walled garden, they will maximise their profits from you.

Paired parts, no cross platform sync, overpriced products, outrageous price on parts etc,

So again f@@k walled garden. Bring on RCS, bring on third party app store, bring on right to repair.

Sent from Xiaomi Redmi K60

The counterpoint to that is that supernormal profits is what allows Apple to keep bringing the unique products that they do to market. The whole reason why Apple is able to produce and market something like the Apple Watch Ultra is precisely because there are people willing to pay $800 for a smartwatch, something you don't really see in the android market, where the race to the bottom just leads to very little innovation on the software front (everyone's just skinning android).

Everything's interchangeable, there's zero barriers to entry, leading to little differentiation amongst products, with razor thin profitability. Things may be cheaper, but they would also be more dull and uninspiring.

That's the lesson Apple taught the rest of the industry. For the longest time in the computing world, it used to be that design didn't matter, and computers were these uninspiring grey boxes running bland software. Apple's financial success has completely upended the status quo, by showing that outstanding design and integration (as opposed to modularity) can drive demand in the market and lead to better profits.

Today, I see companies like Microsoft, Google, HP, even Samsung, all valuing design more than they did 1-2 decades ago, in part thanks to the lessons learnt from Apple, and we are better off for it. So I trade replaceable batteries and expandable storage for a seamless unibody design. To me, one is no better or worse than the other (engineering is all about tradeoffs at the end of the day), and if I decide that I am willing to pay more for repairs and parts and accessories because I value the design and aesthetic of the iPhone more, that's my choice (and one that I made 10 years ago by embracing the Apple ecosystem in its entirety).

It may seem superficial to value something as subjective as "it looks nicer" with a more utilitarian feature like sd-card support, and that's the beauty of the mass market, where the consumer gets to vote with his wallet as to what he prizes more. I don't need to answer to anybody but myself.

 

[mrochester]

this is literally why it's confusing. my experience is the opposite.

Has your brother got his phone number associated with iMessage on the iPad?

 

[I7guy]

Maybe it just me, i am sure some floks who switch devices frequently will find iMessage annoying. I am siwtching between iPhone and Adroid like quarterly basis. I cannnot stay in one ecosystem more than 3 months.

The first thing i do when switch back to iPhone is disable iMeesage. Nice to hear RCS is finally arriving at iPhone.

No priority ********, RCS works well across platform, and i will gladly use it.

F@@k walled garden.



The only advantage for closed ecosystem is to manufacture's advantage. Once you are in walled garden, they will maximise their profits from you.

Paired parts, no cross platform sync, overpriced products, outrageous price on parts etc,

So again f@@k walled garden. Bring on RCS, bring on third party app store, bring on right to repair.

Sent from Xiaomi Redmi K60

You don’t get to use RCS. You use iMessage. From my understanding, which could be incorrectly, if a non-iPhone supports RCS that will be used, else SMS will be used.

 

[Aoligei]

The counterpoint to that is that supernormal profits is what allows Apple to keep bringing the unique products that they do to market. The whole reason why Apple is able to produce and market something like the Apple Watch Ultra is precisely because there are people willing to pay $800 for a smartwatch, something you don't really see in the android market, where the race to the bottom just leads to very little innovation on the software front (everyone's just skinning android).

Everything's interchangeable, there's zero barriers to entry, leading to little differentiation amongst products, with razor thin profitability. Things may be cheaper, but they would also be more dull and uninspiring.

That's the lesson Apple taught the rest of the industry. For the longest time in the computing world, it used to be that design didn't matter, and computers were these uninspiring grey boxes running bland software. Apple's financial success has completely upended the status quo, by showing that outstanding design and integration (as opposed to modularity) can drive demand in the market and lead to better profits.

Today, I see companies like Microsoft, Google, HP, even Samsung, all valuing design more than they did 1-2 decades ago, in part thanks to the lessons learnt from Apple, and we are better off for it. So I trade replaceable batteries and expandable storage for a seamless unibody design. To me, one is no better or worse than the other (engineering is all about tradeoffs at the end of the day), and if I decide that I am willing to pay more for repairs and parts and accessories because I value the design and aesthetic of the iPhone more, that's my choice (and one that I made 10 years ago by embracing the Apple ecosystem in its entirety).

It may seem superficial to value something as subjective as "it looks nicer" with a more utilitarian feature like sd-card support, and that's the beauty of the mass market, where the consumer gets to vote with his wallet as to what he prizes more. I don't need to answer to anybody but myself.

Well in flip side is that walled garden hurts consumers as well. We seen Apple throttle iPhone's performance with degraded battery, we seen Apple charge astronomically price for repairs when third party repairs can do much much cheaper (i.e. some problem only need a capacitors to be replace instead of whole unit replacement), with now expiration of butterfly battery extended warranty users will face hefty repair bills etc.

Apple's profit is build on exclusion and total control which ultimately hurt consumers more than benefit them.

 

[I7guy]

Well in flip side is that walled garden hurts consumers as well. We seen Apple throttle iPhone's performance with degraded battery,

Most rational people, imo, want the phone to keep on trucking rather than to shut off.

we seen Apple charge astronomically price for repairs when third party repairs can do much much cheaper (i.e. some problem only need a capacitors to be replace instead of whole unit replacement),

This is right to repair and has nothing to do with hardware software capabilities.

with now expiration of butterfly battery extended warranty users will face hefty repair bills etc.

Apple's profit is build on exclusion and total control which ultimately hurt consumers more than benefit them.

No it doesn’t. If people really thought that they would buy the competition. You can claim harm but that doesn’t mean in reality it’s so.

 

[Aoligei]

Most rational people, imo, want the phone to keep on trucking rather than to shut off.

This goes back where Apple refuse to services battery if the battery was not below 80% and Apple Store employee try to sell new phones to customer rather services battery.

This is right to repair and has nothing to do with hardware software capabilities.

Yes. The serialized hardware and pairing have everything to do with hardware software capabilities. No other manufacture go as far as locking each part and preventing people changing parts.

This video is very nice to watch, to show some disgusting things that Apple has been done in past

 

[Aoligei]

You don’t get to use RCS. You use iMessage. From my understanding, which could be incorrectly, if a non-iPhone supports RCS that will be used, else SMS will be used.

If you don't read my post. I disable iMessage when I switch back to iPhone. So I don't use iMessage. I am glad RCS is coming to Android.

Currently pretty much all Android who is using Google services are required to have Google Message installed. Google Message is defaulting to RCS messaging. Google Message support devices with from Android 6, which means pretty much all Android phone sold in past 6 or 7 years will able to send and receive RCS messages.

 

[truthsteve]

Actually, both of our data sets are small enough that neithe rof us have conclusive data.

I wasn't the one making claims of 'majority' of the user base. I made sure to use 'many' and 'plenty' terms which are subjective.

if you're going to make a claim of something that the 'majority' of the user base is experiencing, you would need a large data sample because 'majority' in this context means more than 50 percent of the user base. there's nothing subjective about that so you would need to prove it with data.

 

[truthsteve]

Has your brother got his phone number associated with iMessage on the iPad?

no

 

[jlc1978]

I wasn't the one making claims of 'majority' of the user base. I made sure to use 'many' and 'plenty' terms which are subjective.

if you're going to make a claim of something that the 'majority' of the user base is experiencing, you would need a large data sample because 'majority' in this context means more than 50 percent of the user base. there's nothing subjective about that so you would need to prove it with data.

And you will notice th one time I said majority it was preceded by "I am not convinced..." and thus also a subjective statement. In some cases I preceded my statements with "I suspect..."

But let's look at the numbers. Something like 3 trillion iMessages were sent by some 1 billion users in 2022. If even 10% of the users had issues, that'd be 100 million users with issues, and no doubt it would be a major story. That it is not beyond isolated forums and an occasional article in tech sites tells me it is not much of an issue based on the numbers.

My experience working across many industries is most users simply send texts, and they get through, and not large photos or videos. Outside of the US we use WhatsApp more than iMessage even amongst iPhone users.

I simply do not believe, based on my experience, this is an issue that needs to be addressed by Apple and their chosing to adopt RCS is nice but not important to all but a small number of people.

Frankly, as much as people want to blame Apple, had Google continued to work on Hangouts and not abandon it just as it was becoming popular it would probably be the defacto messaging app and iMessage more of a curiosity. Google might also have slowed the growth of the iPhone as iMessage would not have become a popular app and drive sales.

Anyway, we probably will never agree on this point.

 

[I7guy]

This goes back where Apple refuse to services battery if the battery was not below 80% and Apple Store employee try to sell new phones to customer rather services battery.

I know exactly what this refers to and while Apple could have improved handling of the situation, this code, as far as I know, still stands. If youre pointing to this and saying Apple isn’t perfect and because the company isn’t perfect then you’re happy some type of new regulations are coming somewhere in the future because apple deservies, that gets a lol from me.

Yes. The serialized hardware and pairing have everything to do with hardware software capabilities. No other manufacture go as far as locking each part and preventing people changing parts.

This video is very nice to watch, to show some disgusting things that Apple has been done in past

Their iphone hardware is fantastic and virtually lasts forever and for the most part takes the abuse because of the way it’s manufactured.

 

[I7guy]

If you don't read my post. I disable iMessage when I switch back to iPhone. So I don't use iMessage. I am glad RCS is coming to Android.

Currently pretty much all Android who is using Google services are required to have Google Message installed. Google Message is defaulting to RCS messaging. Google Message support devices with from Android 6, which means pretty much all Android phone sold in past 6 or 7 years will able to send and receive RCS messages.

My guess is you will be using SMS on your iphone. Other than the vocal minority I don’t hear people clamoring for RCS who have iPhones.

 

[Aoligei]

I know exactly what this refers to and while Apple could have improved handling of the situation, this code, as far as I know, still stands. If youre pointing to this and saying Apple isn’t perfect and because the company isn’t perfect then you’re happy some type of new regulations are coming somewhere in the future because apple deservies, that gets a lol from me.

Their iphone hardware is fantastic and virtually lasts forever and for the most part takes the abuse because of the way it’s manufactured.

It doesn't matter if iPuone hardeare is fantastic and virtually last forever. Heck my old BlackBerry still works...

It matters if someone smashed the display, cracked back, with running down battery or simplely iPhone is not functioning. It happens with iPhone 7 baseband issue, it happens when iPhone 8 and iPhone X motherboard problem etc.

There is no reason to pairing backglass with chip and there is no reasom to serialize everything. Serialize part doesn't prevent anything, just make repair harder.

 

[Aoligei]

My guess is you will be using SMS on your iphone. Other than the vocal minority I don’t hear people clamoring for RCS who have iPhones.

Well. If it vocal minority, then Apple won't make RCS available.

 

[I7guy]

Well. If it vocal minority, then Apple won't make RCS available.

I dont think RCS will be available as a stand-alone service, much like SMS is t available as a stand alone service.

 

[jlc1978]

some problem only need a capacitors to be replace instead of whole unit replacement),

Component level repair requires troubleshooting time and specialized skills. Manufacturers do board level to save time and offer local repairs.

Serialization ensures real parts are used and reduces demand for stolen ones.

Well. If it vocal minority, then Apple won't make RCS available.

Unless its to stave off future regulatory actions.

 

[SactoGuy18]

I do think the iOS Messages app WILL differentiate between iMessage, RCS and SMS messages. It will probably be:

Blue for iMessage
Green for SMS
Orange for RCS

We may get an updated iOS Messages program supporting RCS as part of a future iOS 17.x version possibly as early as Spring 2024.

 

[Aoligei]

Component level repair requires troubleshooting time and specialized skills. Manufacturers do board level to save time and offer local repairs.

Serialization ensures real parts are used and reduces demand for stolen ones.

No. Serialized part doesn't reduce demand for stolen one.

Battery can be changed with soldiering old BMS board, Screen can be replaced with soldiering old chips from screen.

The repair store in China did all these for my dad's iPhone XS. The battry replacement cost 150RMB which is less than 30USD, new third party battery no warning message.

Sceeen replacement was also done, it is screen off some other iPhone. No warning message and true tone.

FaceID module can also be repaired with parts.
Anything reqires chip and serial number can be replaced with soldiering old chip.

There is no statical proof that serialized parts will reduced demand for stolen ones.

Even if the phone reported stolen, parts and chips from motherboard can also be used for repair other phone.

If you just go to eBay, there are tons of listing with iCloud locked iPhone. Blacked listed iPhone can also been sold to other countries.

Unless its to stave off future regulatory actions.

Politican just don't do things out of thin air

 

[Aoligei]

I dont think RCS will be available as a stand-alone service, much like SMS is t available as a stand alone service.

If my understanding correctly, if i am texing on my Android and sending message to iPhone via RCS, iPhone will receive RCS message.

Unless i am sending message via devices that do not support RCS.

In the way, i don't need iMeesage anymore if i can send and receive RCS message from iPhone.

 

[reggoboy]

Then why iMessage?

Who has a summary of what iMessage will then offer beyond what RCS will offer?

 

[Aoligei]

Then why iMessage?

Who has a summary of what iMessage will then offer beyond what RCS will offer?

For now,

1) iMessage is still have blue bubble where RCS has green bubble

2) iMessage will be end to end encrypted, whereas Apple's RCS will not use Google's end to end encryption.

3) RCS is tied to a phone number whereas iMeesage do not. That means you cannot send RCS message via iPad.

There maybe more, but this is what i know right now

 

[truthsteve]

And you will notice th one time I said majority it was preceded by "I am not convinced..." and thus also a subjective statement. In some cases I preceded my statements with "I suspect..."

if you're not convinced, you disagree with my subjective take, sure.

but if you're going to make the 'majority' claim, you need data

But let's look at the numbers. Something like 3 trillion iMessages were sent by some 1 billion users in 2022. If even 10% of the users had issues, that'd be 100 million users with issues, and no doubt it would be a major story. That it is not beyond isolated forums and an occasional article in tech sites tells me it is not much of an issue based on the numbers.

how do you know more than 10 percent didn't have issues. just because a message was sent doesn't mean they had zero issues with the application. I successfully sent tens of thousands of emails in my lifetime, doesn't mean I encountered zero issues with email.

My experience working across many industries is most users simply send texts, and they get through, and not large photos or videos. Outside of the US we use WhatsApp more than iMessage even amongst iPhone users.

anecdotal.

I simply do not believe, based on my experience, this is an issue that needs to be addressed by Apple and their chosing to adopt RCS is nice but not important to all but a small number of people.

anecdotal and disagreed.

 

[DeepIn2U]

We have "Messages in iCloud". Will Apple support RCS messages in iCloud, too? I love having my full history of conversations appear when I set up a new device.

Lmao that thing, Messages in Cloud, has been broken since it launched 7yrs ago.

 

[DeepIn2U]

For now,

1) iMessage is still have blue bubble where RCS has green bubble

2) iMessage will be end to end encrypted, whereas Apple's RCS will not use Google's end to end encryption.

3) RCS is tied to a phone number whereas iMeesage do not. That means you cannot send RCS message via iPad.

There maybe more, but this is what i know right now

Incorrect.

IMessages ARE tied to a phone number.
Cancel your mobile number ans wait 30-60 days and you'll soon see, regardless if receive only on email account and send receive on email account continues to work!

Messages is activated and enabled via mobile number first and foremost.

 

[DeepIn2U]

And kill WhatsApp. Amen to that! 😂

Lmao. WhatsAppe killed BBM, and like BBM iMessage failed to expand beyond the fruit gang, their being forced here by the European Union to survive.

Note Apple has not added any new feature to iMessage for 3yrs now and the last was for corporations to use messaging for support lines. Not many have taken that app, even in the USA.