3 ms·

There’s probably a few things at play. First, not every iPhone user can be iMessage-only and SMS is a shitty experience. In most non-US countries, they’re not

There’s probably a few things at play. First, not every iPhone user can be iMessage-only and SMS is a shitty experience. In most non-US countries, they’re not winning the iMessage shame battle, they’re driving people to WhatsApp. They’d probably rather people use the built in messaging app, which will incentivize you to use iMessage. Secondly, getting more involved gives them opportunities to embrace/extinguish rcs (they said they won’t extend it). If they can use their market to force encryption on everyone, for example, that makes them look like the good guys against android makers. I could also see them trying to genuinely push UX improvements (eg stickers) on RCS and exiting iMessage from European Markets entirely. Finally, If the EU forces open iMessage, it’ll probably force open other messaging services, which gives RCS an opportunity to grow. See point 1 about them losing already in Europe. Or gives Apple a horse in the race even if they simply withdraw iMessage instead of opening it up.

albert180 3y ago
RCS is already End to End decrypted by default on Pixel Phones
- vineyardmike 3y ago
  From the article: > Finally, Apple says it will work with the GSMA members on ways to further improve the RCS protocol. This particularly includes improving the security and encryption of RCS messages. Apple also told 9to5Mac that it will not use any sort of proprietary end-to-end encryption on top of RCS. Its focus is on improving the RCS standard itself. > For comparison’s sake, Google’s implementation of end-to-end encryption is part of the Messages app on Android rather than the RCS spec itself.
TerrifiedMouse 3y ago
Frankly, the color distinction was never about shame. iOS needs a way to let the user know that they are talking to someone without iMessage and that they are using SMS to do so because many carriers charge for SMS use.

albert180 3y ago

RCS is already End to End decrypted by default on Pixel Phones

vineyardmike 3y ago
From the article: > Finally, Apple says it will work with the GSMA members on ways to further improve the RCS protocol. This particularly includes improving the security and encryption of RCS messages. Apple also told 9to5Mac that it will not use any sort of proprietary end-to-end encryption on top of RCS. Its focus is on improving the RCS standard itself. > For comparison’s sake, Google’s implementation of end-to-end encryption is part of the Messages app on Android rather than the RCS spec itself.

TerrifiedMouse 3y ago

Frankly, the color distinction was never about shame. iOS needs a way to let the user know that they are talking to someone without iMessage and that they are using SMS to do so because many carriers charge for SMS use.