When people make a big stink about Apple not implementing RCS I always bring this up. RCS has an open core sure - but it’s lacking plenty of features that people refer to when talking about RCS. Furthermore, the gateways used for Google’s RCS implementation are made by a company Google acquired. Would we be happy with Apple charging cell providers money to install iMessage gateways at whatever cost they wanted, because they hold the patents? No, so why would we give Google a pass?
If we want to fix this issue, force Google to relinquish their control of RCS and open the standard unencumbered with patents. Require telecoms to implement the standard in full and without deviation or be fined. Give phone manufacturers a few more years to comply and then it’s done.
That’s true, but there would be additional challenges. Outside of the US, Android dominates the markets to the tune of +80%. In order for such an effort to have teeth, there has to be incentive for them to comply. They could pull iOS out of the EU market and remove iMessage from macOS if it came down to it. They are already such a small percentage they might just eat the loss as the cost of protecting their walled garden. Unlikely, but a possibility nonetheless.
Seriously. Hold them all accountable. Don’t be pro-google/anti-apple because you happened to give some money to one of them. Scrutinize both at all times.
When people make a big stink about Apple not implementing RCS I always bring this up. RCS has an open core sure - but it’s lacking plenty of features that people refer to when talking about RCS. Furthermore, the gateways used for Google’s RCS implementation are made by a company Google acquired. Would we be happy with Apple charging cell providers money to install iMessage gateways at whatever cost they wanted, because they hold the patents? No, so why would we give Google a pass?
If we want to fix this issue, force Google to relinquish their control of RCS and open the standard unencumbered with patents. Require telecoms to implement the standard in full and without deviation or be fined. Give phone manufacturers a few more years to comply and then it’s done.
We can also go the other way around. Force Apple to make iMessage an open standard.
That’s true, but there would be additional challenges. Outside of the US, Android dominates the markets to the tune of +80%. In order for such an effort to have teeth, there has to be incentive for them to comply. They could pull iOS out of the EU market and remove iMessage from macOS if it came down to it. They are already such a small percentage they might just eat the loss as the cost of protecting their walled garden. Unlikely, but a possibility nonetheless.
Seriously. Hold them all accountable. Don’t be pro-google/anti-apple because you happened to give some money to one of them. Scrutinize both at all times.