The push to bring iMessage to Android users today adds a new contender. A startup called Beeper, which had been working on a multi-platform messaging
Beeper reverse-engineered iMessage to bring blue bubble texts to Android users::The push to bring iMessage to Android users today adds a new contender. A startup called Beeper, which had been working on a multi-platform messaging
However I am surprised that Beeper was able to do this in software. With everyone else using an Apple device as a proxy, I figured the protocol required a magic handshake from the TPM chip in an Apple device. That would be easy to do.
They have promised to implement "RCS Universal Profile"
This means the bare minimum, not the advanced features implemented by Google and Samsung etc.
An example of a missing feature from Universal Profile is end to end encryption.
They also said: "This will work alongside iMessage, which will continue to be the best and most secure messaging experience for Apple users."
The implication of this is that it won't be in the iMessage app, it will be in a separate but official app, siloing your Android friends from your iPhone friends.
When this comes out, every European is going to shrug and keep using Whatsapp.
@Mountaineer Encryption needs to be added to the standard, and then Apple will be expected to implement it. Hopefully the EU knocks some heads together and makes this happen.
WhatsApp is owned by Facebook and has ads, which is two good reasons not to use it. Europeans are just as "stuck with a bad standard" as Americans are here.
I use RCS quite a bit and like it. Although nothing on a phone should be regarded as truly secure.
The implication of this is that it won't be in the iMessage app, it will be in a separate but official app, siloing your Android friends from your iPhone friends.
Lol wut
SMS and iMessage both work via the same Messages app. All they’ll do is add RCS functionality to the Messages app, and iPhone users will continue using the same app they’ve always used.
I agree with this part of your statement 100%.
It will work POORLY.
Whether it's in the same app or simply a different colour like SMS is currently, it'll be a half assed implementation, designed to segregate your iphone and android friends.
Got an existing iphone group chat? Bet you can't add an RCS participant to it.
Create a new RCS group chat so you can include everyone? Bet it's missing features that you'd get in imessage.
Receive a high resolution video from a friend via imessage? Forward that to another friend via RCS and they'll receive 5 blurry pixels.
And throughout all of this, apple will blame the RCS protocol and say "We're actively working with GSMA to improve RCS".
unfortunately you're right. it'll be marginally better, sure, but I have zero doubt the "green bubble" is just going to be a different color. better than nothing I guess
@BearOfaTime I have RCS and use it. It works fine. I have not noticed significant reliability problems, using Google's servers. If there are problems it's likely the carrier's garbage implementation.