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Every time Apple vs Android comes up, someone pops up trying to stump for RCS... I don't recall the precise details at the moment, but there are very good reas

Every time Apple vs Android comes up, someone pops up trying to stump for RCS... I don't recall the precise details at the moment, but there are very good reasons for Apple not to prefer RCS—I believe one of them was that it is too heavily tied to the carriers. In general, I am very much a proponent of not allowing the perfect to become the enemy of the good; however, there are times when that breaks down in practice, and I believe this is one of them. In particular, if RCS is adopted as "the next messaging system" tomorrow, and then next year a much better open cross-platform messaging protocol is developed, it is vanishingly unlikely that it would be adopted. In fact, it's unlikely that any other system would be able to replace RCS for several more years, simply because everyone had just changed, and would be unwilling to change again for some time.

pseudalopex 3y ago
Do you believe Google would not work with Apple on a compatible protocol if Apple would work with Google? Or block Apple from shipping iMessage for Android? Apple's strategy of using iMessage for lock in is public record.[1] [1] https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/9/22375128/apple-imessage-android-ecosystem-lock-in-epic-games-filings-app-store-dispute https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/9/22375128/apple-imessage-an...
- mardifoufs 3y ago
  Well google does not allow any access to Android's RCS API, and basically uses a non open source extension for encryption. So yes, if they wanted RCS to not be their own little fiefdom, they would've just done so. Theres absolutely no reason to not allow access to the API except for lock in. I think only Samsung has a deal with them to actually be able to use RCS in their messaging app.
  - pseudalopex 3y ago
    I didn't ask if they thought Google were reliable champions of openness. I asked if they believed Google would not work with Apple to diminish Apple's lock in. Screwing 3rd party apps long after Apple did doesn't show Google would have not or would not work with Apple.

pseudalopex 3y ago

Do you believe Google would not work with Apple on a compatible protocol if Apple would work with Google? Or block Apple from shipping iMessage for Android? Apple's strategy of using iMessage for lock in is public record.[1] [1] https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/9/22375128/apple-imessage-android-ecosystem-lock-in-epic-games-filings-app-store-dispute https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/9/22375128/apple-imessage-an...

mardifoufs 3y ago
Well google does not allow any access to Android's RCS API, and basically uses a non open source extension for encryption. So yes, if they wanted RCS to not be their own little fiefdom, they would've just done so. Theres absolutely no reason to not allow access to the API except for lock in. I think only Samsung has a deal with them to actually be able to use RCS in their messaging app.
- pseudalopex 3y ago
  I didn't ask if they thought Google were reliable champions of openness. I asked if they believed Google would not work with Apple to diminish Apple's lock in. Screwing 3rd party apps long after Apple did doesn't show Google would have not or would not work with Apple.