5 ms·

isn't that just RCS?

2OEH8eoCRo0 3y ago
No. I've read that Google is not allowed put iMessage-like features into the stock messaging app because it would run afoul of antitrust. Ironically, Apple can do this because they own everything.
- subarctic 3y ago
  It sounds like Google's way around this is what they've been doing for years at this point: slowly replacing AOSP builtins like the stock messaging app with separate, proprietary Google apps.
- richiebful1 3y ago
  I'm not sure what the stock messaging app is anymore, but "Messages by Google" accomplishes what we're talking about [1] 1. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.messaging https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.and...
  - 2OEH8eoCRo0 3y ago
    Right, I don't believe that's part of AOSP but is a Google app. I don't believe all phones ship with that though my Pixel does. Do Samsung phones ship with that?
  - muppetman 3y ago
    That's a closed source proprietary Google app that relies on Google Play Services to work.
    - subarctic 3y ago
      Just like the rest of android
      - muppetman 3y ago
        Yup. What's open source now is basically a framework on which you have to build anything useful and, surprise surprise, the only company building that useful is Google.
- agloe_dreams 3y ago
  This is silly and false. Google's default android Messaging app in the US on all carriers is Google Messages and it uses RCS to do exactly what you are saying they can't do.
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
  - 2OEH8eoCRo0 3y ago
    Have you ever booted AOSP on a device or VM? There is a messaging app that is part of AOSP that is not Google Messages
    - kelnos 3y ago
      What does that have to do with anything, though? Google Messages is available to any Android OEM that passes certification, assuming they want it. Certainly Messages wouldn't be a part of AOSP, as Messages isn't open source. Google Messages is the stock messaging app, and contains iMessage-like features. AOSP is mostly irrelevant. It's not clear why iMessage-like features would be an antitrust issue for Google anyway.
      - 2OEH8eoCRo0 3y ago
        https://android.googlesource.com/platform/packages/apps/Messaging/+/refs/heads/android12-release https://android.googlesource.com/platform/packages/apps/Mess...
    - muppetman 3y ago
      Yes that Google haven't updated for years and is at this point abandoned[1]. 1: https://twitter.com/MishaalRahman/status/1669026188399112192 https://twitter.com/MishaalRahman/status/1669026188399112192
      - 2OEH8eoCRo0 3y ago
        Alright. Yes. now it is. This is all I've been trying to point out- is that there is a built in messaging app as part of AOSP. My recollection is that Google can't turn this into gMessage because then it would be distributed as part of the base OS and would require a Google account to use. Now it's abandoned so it definitely won't be anything now.
criddell 3y ago
RCS could have been the answer, but then Google caved to carriers and others who want to see yourmessages and made end to end encryption optional.

No. I've read that Google is not allowed put iMessage-like features into the stock messaging app because it would run afoul of antitrust. Ironically, Apple can do this because they own everything.

subarctic 3y ago
It sounds like Google's way around this is what they've been doing for years at this point: slowly replacing AOSP builtins like the stock messaging app with separate, proprietary Google apps.
richiebful1 3y ago
I'm not sure what the stock messaging app is anymore, but "Messages by Google" accomplishes what we're talking about [1] 1. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.messaging https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.and...
- 2OEH8eoCRo0 3y ago
  Right, I don't believe that's part of AOSP but is a Google app. I don't believe all phones ship with that though my Pixel does. Do Samsung phones ship with that?
- muppetman 3y ago
  That's a closed source proprietary Google app that relies on Google Play Services to work.
  - subarctic 3y ago
    Just like the rest of android
    - muppetman 3y ago
      Yup. What's open source now is basically a framework on which you have to build anything useful and, surprise surprise, the only company building that useful is Google.
agloe_dreams 3y ago
This is silly and false. Google's default android Messaging app in the US on all carriers is Google Messages and it uses RCS to do exactly what you are saying they can't do.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- 2OEH8eoCRo0 3y ago
  Have you ever booted AOSP on a device or VM? There is a messaging app that is part of AOSP that is not Google Messages
  - kelnos 3y ago
    What does that have to do with anything, though? Google Messages is available to any Android OEM that passes certification, assuming they want it. Certainly Messages wouldn't be a part of AOSP, as Messages isn't open source. Google Messages is the stock messaging app, and contains iMessage-like features. AOSP is mostly irrelevant. It's not clear why iMessage-like features would be an antitrust issue for Google anyway.
    - 2OEH8eoCRo0 3y ago
      https://android.googlesource.com/platform/packages/apps/Messaging/+/refs/heads/android12-release https://android.googlesource.com/platform/packages/apps/Mess...
  - muppetman 3y ago
    Yes that Google haven't updated for years and is at this point abandoned[1]. 1: https://twitter.com/MishaalRahman/status/1669026188399112192 https://twitter.com/MishaalRahman/status/1669026188399112192
    - 2OEH8eoCRo0 3y ago
      Alright. Yes. now it is. This is all I've been trying to point out- is that there is a built in messaging app as part of AOSP. My recollection is that Google can't turn this into gMessage because then it would be distributed as part of the base OS and would require a Google account to use. Now it's abandoned so it definitely won't be anything now.

criddell 3y ago

RCS could have been the answer, but then Google caved to carriers and others who want to see yourmessages and made end to end encryption optional.