Samsung has joined Google’s campaign to force Apple to make iMessage RCS-compatible—but European regulators are more likely to get that job done.

Pressure grows on Apple to open up iMessage::Samsung has joined Google’s campaign to force Apple to make iMessage RCS-compatible—but European regulators are more likely to get that job done.

    • danielfgom@lemmy.worldEnglish
      362·
      9 months ago

      Nothing. Google Messages app has all the same features. The only problem is that Apple refuses to also support RCS (which Google messages uses) and so if an android user sends a message to an iPhone user, the iPhone user gets it as an SMS. If the Android user sends a picture, the iPhone user receives it as an MMS.

      In the rest of the world this is not an issue because most people use WhatsApp or Signal or Viber or any other local messaging app. Also most android phones have the Messages app as default which means if you message another Android user they will get it over WiFi/data in the messages app.

      But in the US for some reason the iPhone users consider getting an SMS as somehow bad and that the Android user is poor or inferior because they sent an SMS.

      It’s totally stupid and only a US issue, but it’s so strong that teenagers will be bullied if they don’t have an iPhone for iMessage. So they all get iPhones in order not to be bullied. And this way Apple makes mega sales.

      • gun@lemmy.mlEnglish
        13·
        9 months ago

        This is the reason I got my first IPhone. This is also the same reason why I left IPhone.

    • realharo@lemm.ee
      English
      13·
      9 months ago

      The fact that other people they know also use it.

      The app itself is pretty much the same as any other modern messaging app, but network effects are everything when it comes to messaging services.

      This is why you see entire countries where everyone has WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger or Telegram, depending on what other people in the country are using.

    • angstylittlecatboy@reddthat.comEnglish
      103·
      9 months ago

      Encryption, photos are higher quality through it (this is where “Android cameras are bad” came from,) typing indicators, sending messages over Wi-Fi, iMessage games, and message effects.

      • bouldering_barista@lemmy.worldEnglish
        151·
        9 months ago

        Some of that isn’t i-message specific though, right? I have a Pixel and it has high quality pictures, typing indicators, reads receipts, sends over wifi… the other stuff I don’t think Android has but that’s a bit gimicky anyway. Not trying to be an android fan girl but I really don’t understand what makes i-message better.

        • insomniac@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          7·
          9 months ago

          The problem is the walled garden, both ecosystems have those features but they don’t work together. If all your friends have iPhones, there’s a lot of pressure to also have an iPhone. And once you’re in, you’re not likely getting out unless all your social circle does at once. That kind of lock in is extremely valuable.

          • theohgee@lemmy.worldEnglish
            31·
            9 months ago

            I have an android and use Textra as my messaging app. I can see iPhone reactions and also react to messages agnostic of the other phone’s OS

        • angstylittlecatboy@reddthat.comEnglish
          5·
          9 months ago

          I agree that all the stuff iMessage has that RCS doesn’t is gimmicky, I’m, an Android user myself…but if you have an Android and someone you want to text has an iPhone, you’re both using SMS.

      • Takumidesh@lemmy.worldEnglish
        7·
        9 months ago

        All of this is available on just about every messaging service, so the real answer is tribalism and lack of consumer education.

      • jmankman@lemmy.myserv.oneEnglish
        1·
        9 months ago

        My understanding of “Android cameras bad” came from snapchat on Android literally taking shittier pictures and videos for some reason.

        • pirat@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          9 months ago

          It took a screenshot of the viewfinder instead of an actual shot with shutter settings etc.