Apple adopts RCS into iMessage

[On2wheels]

Google will work with Apple on implementing RCS on iPhone

Following the news that Apple is adding RCS support to the iPhone, Google is out with a statement this afternoon...

9to5google.com

I've been following this for months, as long as Android has been pushing the #getthemessage campaign, and think it's great that it's happening finally. Can't help but think the push from the EU and Nothing's app helped though. Still nice to see.

 

[Lysrin]

That is good to have it supported across the OSes, but I've had frustrations with RCS on Android messaging and shut it off. Example:

- Arrive at school to pick up daughter.
- Sent RCS text to tell her I'm there. No issue for me, I guess, because I have data.
- She has no data away from WiFi, and she's not on WiFi at school, so the message isn't delivered to her.
- After an extended non-response I look at the little icons below the message, and realize it was never delivered.
- I have to click it again and tell it to send as SMS. She gets the message.

After several times of that annoyance, I said get me clear of that!! Can't risk messages not getting through. Also hard to teach a 13 year old to consistently check the tiny indicator icons to see that her message was sent, and click and switch to SMS if it wasn't. Definitely NOT what you want in an emergency when your kid is trying to message you.

Turned it off on both our Android phones.

 

[Sagath]

A lot of this depends on implementation.

One of the main advantages of iMessage is that it doesn't care about how it delivers. It will use data be it wifi cellular or tethered.

Another current issue IMO with RCS is the inherent lack of end to end encryption.

I'm also curious how apple will implement servers and 'cross talk' to know what format is being used. Grey bubbles? Maybe pink? But knowing what format a message is using can be important, much like you pointed out with the problems with RCS.

I'm cautiously optimistic about it overall. It will be nice to send and receive full data pictures to my android friends finally, or share other info that's a bit of a disaster usually when done via SMS. (Hopefully this finally kills off SMS too?)

 

[Shadowarez]

wonder if they will do it better then Samsung has as it regularly fails to a phenomenal degree lol sometimes it feels like either Samsung or Google is doing things in the BG to mess with it. but it could actually be just the infrastructure up here

 

[Jokester]

A lot of this depends on implementation.

One of the main advantages of iMessage is that it doesn't care about how it delivers. It will use data be it wifi cellular or tethered.

Another current issue IMO with RCS is the inherent lack of end to end encryption.

I'm also curious how apple will implement servers and 'cross talk' to know what format is being used. Grey bubbles? Maybe pink? But knowing what format a message is using can be important, much like you pointed out with the problems with RCS.

I'm cautiously optimistic about it overall. It will be nice to send and receive full data pictures to my android friends finally, or share other info that's a bit of a disaster usually when done via SMS. (Hopefully this finally kills off SMS too?)

RCS has end to end encryption. I currently see it when talking to people with RCS as well.

 

[Shadowarez]

also can send multimedia messages above the limit sms has.

 

[Sagath]

RCS has end to end encryption. I currently see it when talking to people with RCS as well.

The standard (rcs) does inherently not have encryption. Google Messages adds it as a layer on top of RCS via Signal, and only if both are using google messages or Signal based apps that support it.

Again, this will take implementation work to cross talk with Apples software.

 

[Jokester]

The standard (rcs) does inherently not have encryption. Google Messages adds it as a layer on top of RCS via Signal, and only if both are using google messages or Signal based apps that support it.

Again, this will take implementation work to cross talk with Apples software.

Ah thanks for that info. I just assumed that was part of RCS. Well hopefully they sort that. I like messages

 

[On2wheels]

Ah thanks for that info. I just assumed that was part of RCS. Well hopefully they sort that. I like messages

I also thought Messages was automatically e2ee when on RCS, I'm growing fond of Messages but it's still so clunky at times. For example when trying to send a photo:
1. tap to select photo,
2. tap to confirm still photo (in full screen view)
3. tap to take the photo
4. tap to confirm the captured photo
5. tap to send the photo.

Compared to other apps like facebook messenger that are super easy to send photos, it's no wonder google can't score a winning chat app after all these years. (read the history of projects killed off by google, it's rather good). https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/202...ability-the-history-of-google-messaging-apps/

I suspect people won't fully realize the benefits of this iOS RCS integration until we're fully engaged in it. Funny enough just this past weekend my brother sent me a video through sms from his iphone and the result was the typical grainy image that only fills 25% of my phone's screen!

edit: the fallout from Nothing's attempt at iMessage integration is quite funny to read. https://9to5google.com/2023/11/18/nothing-chats-sunbird-unencrypted-data-privacy-nightmare/

 

[On2wheels]

Really hope Google gets their house in order by the time this is out of beta so it's as reliable as imessage is now.