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Google hints at smoother iPhone-Android messaging experience from ‘fall of 2024’
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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Summary
This will allow Android users to send messages — text and multimedia — through a more modern protocol and not rely on outdated SMS technology which is far less secure.
Google, on its Android website, added a section on the Google messages landing page that suggested that iPhone will roll out support for Rich Communication Services (RCS) later this year.
“Apple has announced it will be adopting RCS in the fall of 2024. Once that happens, it will mean a better messaging experience for everyone,” it read with a ‘Coming soon on iOS’ label. This is another hint at the speculation that the feature will be a part of the iOS 18 update. However, it is not yet clear if it will be a part of the initial release or will roll out later on an iOS 18.x update towards the end of 2024.
The page, first spotted by Apple tracker 9To5Mac, showed details about the benefits of RCS like high-resolution photos/videos, typing indicators, and a better group chat experience.
The news first came to light in November 2023 when Apple told 9To5Mac that the tech giant would be adding support for RCS Universal Profile in 2024.
This will allow Android users to send messages — text and multimedia — through a more modern protocol and not rely on outdated SMS technology, which is far less secure.
Like iMessage, RCS also works over mobile data or WiFi and will bring similar features to cross-platform messaging like read receipts, typing indicators, high-quality media sharing and more. It is also said to allow users to share their locations within text threads.
A huge chunk of the credit for ending the green bubble vs blue bubble war should go to the European Commission. In February, the body exempted iMessage as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The service was under the lens of the European Union with Bing, Edge and Microsoft advertising to determine whether they qualify to be “core platform services” under the DMA. However, Apple argued that iMessage was not popular enough in Europe for the rules to apply.
Being termed a gatekeeper would have meant that Apple would have to make iMessage interoperable with other platforms, something that Apple is not exactly keen on. The only alternative was to adopt RCS for a better messaging experience on an inter-operating system level.
The announcement also comes amidst the lawsuit filed against Apple by the US Department of Justice, accusing it of anti-competitive practices and keeping an illegal monopoly in smartphones.
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