RCS Archives - Gizmochina

Fresh Google Webpage Hints Towards Apple RCS Arrival for This Fall

Anubhav — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 02:31:35 +0000

We all know that a major change is coming to iPhones soon, with Apple finally announcing support for RCS messaging. This would mean a better experience for everyone, regardless of whether someone is using an iPhone or an Android device. But Google’s new Android webpage seems to point towards exactly when this will happen – The Fall, which could mean anywhere between August and November, possibly even sooner.

RCS brings a lot more to the table than traditional texting

RCS, or Rich Communication Services, is a modern messaging standard that offers a richer and more feature-filled experience compared to traditional texting. It essentially upgrades your texting capabilities to be more on par with what you might be used to with messaging apps like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.

Here’s what RCS brings to the table:

Crystal Clear Sharing: Share photos and videos with your contacts without worrying about quality loss. RCS allows for sending larger file sizes, ensuring media arrives looking crisp and clear.
Real-time Chat Features: No more wondering if your message went through! RCS offers typing indicators, so you’ll know when your recipient is composing a reply. Plus, you’ll get read receipts, letting you know when your message has been delivered and seen.
Enhanced Group Chats: Group chats can often be chaotic with SMS/MMS. RCS basically helps bring order to the madness. It allows for features like group chat names, participant lists, and message threading, making it easier to follow conversations and avoid confusion.

While RCS offers these benefits, it’s important to note that Apple’s messaging app, iMessage, will still exist and be displayed in blue bubbles. RCS messages, on the other hand, will appear in green bubbles. This distinction helps users know if they’re messaging someone within the iMessage ecosystem or using a different platform. Apple clearly doesn’t want to remove the iMessage ecosystem USP from its catalog, and its making sure of this.

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Apple Doesn’t Have to Open iMessage to Rivals After All, New EU Ruling States

Anubhav — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 15:44:53 +0000

A recent decision by the European Union (EU) has sparked conversations around the regulations of messaging apps, particularly focusing on Apple’s iMessage. The EU, after careful examination, concluded that iMessage doesn’t hold the “gatekeeper” status within Europe’s digital communication sphere. This term applies to platforms that control significant market power and, thus, have specific obligations for interoperability with third-party services. What’s more interesting is that users were nearly convinced that Apple would likely open up iMessage to its rival operating systems, but it seems like that isn’t happening anytime soon. More details here.

EU’s investigation sided with Apple in the end and is now closed.

Apple initially identified iMessage as falling under this category but later revised its stance, suggesting that the app’s usage in Europe didn’t meet the criteria for such a classification. The EU’s investigation into the matter, which also included Microsoft‘s Bing among others, has now been closed, agreeing with Apple’s argument. This means iMessage won’t be compelled to enable cross-platform communication with other messaging services.

Interestingly, this decision arrives amidst Apple’s announcement to support Rich Communication Services (RCS) in iMessage by later 2024. RCS is touted as the next evolution in messaging technology, promising enhanced features over traditional SMS and MMS. Google has been a strong advocate for RCS, urging Apple to adopt this standard to facilitate smoother messaging experiences across Android and iOS devices.

While the EU’s ruling exempts iMessage from being labeled a gatekeeper, it doesn’t negate Apple’s influence in the digital marketplace, nor does it impact the ongoing oversight of Apple and Microsoft’s broader platform services. The EU maintains its vigilance, ready to reassess should market dynamics shift significantly.

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Samsung urges Apple to adopt RCS in its own snarky way

Anurag — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 16:30:59 +0000

Google has been taunting Apple for not adopting the Rich Communication Services (RCS) protocol for over a year now. The company even launched a campaign called ‘Get The Message’ to pressure the iPhone maker into adopting the messaging protocol, but Apple didn’t bother to listen. Now, Samsung has joined the search giant in urging the Cupertino company to embrace RCS, and it has done so in its own sarcastic way.

“Help Apple,” says Samsung

Samsung has released a new video on YouTube, which calls for Apple to adopt RCS. The video, titled “Green bubbles and blue bubbles want to be together,” shows a Romeo and Juliet-style conversation between two users who want to be together, but are kept apart by one of their parents (hinting at Apple’s stubbornness to support RCS in iMessage). “What did green ever do to them? We’re bubbles too,” one of them asks. The touching video from Samsung supports Google’s existing #GetTheMessage campaign.

RCS is supposed to be an upgrade over the existing messaging protocol, SMS, which lacks encryption, group messaging, or animated stickers. RCS chats are meant to give you a rich messaging experience by showing you when someone is typing, offering read receipts, and allowing you to send messages over mobile data or Wi-Fi. You can also share large files and high-resolution photos using RCS. The new protocol is available on all Android phones.

For RCS to be effective, it must be implemented on all smartphones, including iPhones. However, Apple has been reluctant to embrace the new protocol, presumably because the Cupertino company doesn’t want to relinquish its ecosystem lock-in. While the likelihood of Apple willingly adopting RCS is slim, regulators, such as the EU, might force it to open up its messaging services. That said, you can still try RCS on iPhones using this third party app.

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EU’s Regulations Could Change the iMessage Experience, But Is It Enough to Shift Brand Loyalty?

Anubhav — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 02:49:51 +0000

The European Union is closing in on tech giants with its latest regulatory moves, and Apple is squarely in the crosshairs. With the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple’s iMessage could be required to support Rich Communication Service (RCS), the messaging platform used by Android devices. This comes after the EU’s mandate for Apple to replace its iPhone’s proprietary Lightning port with a USB-C port. The decision on whether iMessage is a “gatekeeper” service will be announced tomorrow, September 6th.

Apple’s Ecosystem could be revamped following a change as big as this, if it goes through

What’s curious is how these regulatory changes could affect consumer choice. iMessage has long been a distinguishing feature for iPhone users, offering end-to-end encryption, high-quality media sharing, and other perks. However, RCS isn’t far behind; it provides Android users with similar functionalities, including suggested replies and location sharing. If iMessage is forced to adopt RCS, the line between iPhone and Android devices could blur, potentially impacting Apple’s customer retention.

Yet, the battle isn’t entirely about features; it’s also about numbers. To be classified as a gatekeeper, a company must have a turnover of at least €7.5 billion in the last three years or a fair market value of €75 billion in the last financial year, among other requirements. Apple argues that iMessage doesn’t meet the EU’s gatekeeper criteria, citing its lower user base in the EU.

So, will these regulatory changes alter the smartphone landscape significantly? It’s debatable. Features like Animojis, Memojis, and handwritten notes, exclusive to iMessage, may still lure users to iPhones. Similarly, Android devices have their own unique offerings. Apple’s push against the gatekeeper label suggests they’re concerned, but it’s unclear if feature parity in messaging apps would be enough to swing consumer loyalty from one brand to another.

Whether you’re Team iPhone or Team Android, keep an eye out for tomorrow’s announcement. For Apple CEO Tim Cook, it might just be another sleepless night wondering how much the EU can influence his company’s stronghold on its ecosystem.

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Google Messages receives Homescreen Overhaul in New Update

Anubhav — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 04:33:34 +0000

Google is giving its Messages app a fresh new look with a redesigned homescreen that incorporates key branding elements and enhances user experience. The update removes the familiar navigation drawer and replaces it with a more streamlined approach – possibly for the sake of branding or merely accessibility.

The 4-colour Google Logo takes over the Hamburger button on the Messages Homescreen

One notable change is the replacement of the full-width search bar with a simple magnifying glass icon, reducing clutter and focusing attention on the content. Positioned in the top-left corner, the iconic four-colour “G” logo of Google takes its place, followed by the word “Messages,” ensuring clear branding and easy recognition. The navigation drawer and its hamburger icon, previously used for accessing various options, have been replaced by the account menu. Options like Archived, Spam & blocked, Mark all as read, and Device pairing now reside in this menu, while Your data in Messages, Messages settings, and Help & feedback remain unchanged. The “Choose theme” feature has been relocated to the settings menu.

In terms of search functionality, Google has discarded the “Categories” section in favor of a grid layout. This new design reduces the need for excessive scrolling and offers quick access to categories such as Starred, Images, Videos, Places, Links, Unread, Known, and Unknown.

One of the most intriguing aspects of this redesign is the prominent placement of the Google logo in the top-left corner. It serves as a visual reminder of Google’s commitment to messaging services and its ongoing RCS (Rich Communication Services) campaign. AT&T became the most recent company to switch to Google Jibe’s RCS platform.

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AT&T Switches to Google’s Jibe for RCS Messaging Perks

Anubhav — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 01:59:38 +0000

RCS (Rich Communication Services) technology is an advanced messaging protocol designed to enhance the functionality and user experience of traditional SMS messaging. It allows users to send messages with features such as read receipts, typing indicators, high-resolution media sharing, and group chats. RCS also supports features like video calling, file sharing, and location sharing, bringing it closer to the capabilities of other popular messaging apps. Unlike SMS, RCS operates over data networks and requires support from both the mobile device and the carrier. It aims to provide a richer and more interactive messaging experience for users across different devices and networks. Google and Apple have previously clashed regarding using RCS as a standard for smartphone messaging, with Apple choosing to remain out of this. As per the latest news, popular US telecom operator, AT&T has started utilizing Google‘s Jibe platform for RCS-powered messaging.

Google acquired Jibe Mobile in the year 2015

While all mobile carriers support RCS, some, like AT&T, have relied on their own backend systems instead of Google’s Jibe platform. However, a lot of customers will be extremely happy as AT&T has recently announced its transition to the Jibe platform, aligning with other carriers and promising a superior RCS messaging experience for its customers. This transition brings a lot of perks, as users had previously criticized AT&T’s servers for a subpar RCS messaging experience. Shifting their users to Google’s tried-and-tested solution is expected to improve performance and reliability across the board. Moreover, AT&T’s default messaging system will now harness the power of the Jibe platform, ensuring that users can enjoy the “latest RCS features instantly,” as highlighted by Google SVP Hiroshi Lockheimer in the tweet.

Google has been working diligently to enhance RCS since acquiring Jibe Mobile in 2015. Along the way, they encountered obstacles, including resistance from carriers. However, it seems that all parties (well, most of them) have finally aligned their interests. Users can verify if their Messages app is utilizing Jibe by navigating to the app’s Settings, tapping RCS chats and scrolling to the bottom of the page.

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Samsung makes Google Messages default SMS app for Galaxy S22 lineup in the US

Jeet — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 04:49:43 +0000

The latest Samsung Galaxy S22 series smartphones in the United States come pre-installed with Google Messages as the default messaging application which has support for Rich Communication Services (RCS).

Prior to this, Samsung had its own stock messaging app that was compatible with RCS which was the default SMS application on the South Korean giant’s devices in almost all regions before it started transitioning to Google Messages.

This is a new development for the Samsung premium smartphones in the United States by in the European market, the Sout Korean company switched to Google Messages as the default app with last year’s Galaxy S21 lineup.

The company has also confirmed this move and in a statement, Samsung spokesperson Jordan Guthmann said: “To create the best possible messaging experience for users — with a richer, more engaging communication experience that is consistent across platforms — Samsung is now making Messages the default messaging app for Galaxy S22 series users worldwide, giving them even better capabilities.”

Given that Samsung makes up a significant portion of Android smartphones sold in the United States, the adoption of Google Messages could be proved to be a boon for RCS adoption in the region.

For those who are unaware, Rich Communication Services (RCS) is a next-gen SMS texting version that comes with features like typing indicators, read receipts, and the ability to share higher resolution photos and larger files, among others.

While the technology isn’t new, it has taken many years for it to reach the market. Although companies agrees to replace SMS with RCS in 2019, telecom network operators in the US started making changes from last year by adding Google Messages, which now has end-to-end encryption, as the default messaging app on their Android phones.

Google executive goes all out against Apple for not incorporating RCS into iMessage

Zohaib Ahmed — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 07:58:40 +0000

Hiroshi Lockheimer, Google’s vice president for Android, Chrome OS, Play, Photos, and Chrome, has tossed perhaps the harshest remarks at Apple yet for its iMessage policy. Accusing Apple of using iMessage to sell more iPhones, he linked the strategy to promoting bullying and peer pressure.

The comments come in the form of a tweet that shared a Wall Street Journal article about iMessage’s dominance and how it has led youngsters that own Androids to feel alienated from their iOS counterparts:

Apple’s iMessage lock-in is a documented strategy. Using peer pressure and bullying as a way to sell products is disingenuous for a company that has humanity and equity as a core part of its marketing. The standards exist today to fix this. https://t.co/MiQqMUOrgn

— Hiroshi Lockheimer (@lockheimer) January 8, 2022

The “documented strategy” the VP is likely referring to is a 2016 email from Apple’s Phil Schiller that recently came to light during the legal tussle with Epic, where the executive expressed that “moving iMessage to Android will hurt us more than help us.”

A similar comment was also made by Craig Federighi, senior vice president of software engineering at Apple: “iMessage on Android would simply serve to remove an obstacle to iPhone families giving their kids Android phones.”

Lockheimer’s comments are a part of the mounting barrage from Google against Apple for its refusal to adopt the RCS standard.

RCS or Rich Communication Services is Google’s answer to iMessage and aims to modernize SMS with features we have grown used to on various chat apps like typing indicators, read receipts, high-quality photos, and more.

iMessage should not benefit from bullying. Texting should bring us together, and the solution exists. Let’s fix this as one industry. https://t.co/18k8RNGQw4

— Android (@Android) January 8, 2022

If Apple opens up the walled garden iMessage is currently to Google Messages, the Google executive insinuates it would reduce the pressure on teens to get an iPhone. iMessage has become a must-have tool for teens in the US, failure to use which does result in bullying, just as the WSJ report says.

Not only that but iPhones and Androids will finally be able to communicate with each other in perfect harmony without having to worry about security. Currently, chats on iMessage are only encrypted when there’s an iPhone at both ends. But when an Android user comes into the picture, chat bubbles turn green and security risks begin to creep in.

Sure, in countries like the US, the green bubble situation isn’t that common of an occurrence considering a whopping 87% of teens own an iPhone. But elsewhere, Android users outnumber Apple users 3 to 1, and the lack of proper compatibility between RCS and iMessage means it’s near impossible to fully secure messaging on iMessage.