Tim Cook Shoots Down Idea of iOS Adopting RCS Messages: 'Buy Your Mom an iPhone'

[NOATAK]

As much as I loathe WhatsApp, I'm glad most people in Europe don't use iMessage.

 

[lukematch]

I want RCS on iPhone, but "buy your mom an iPhone" is just awesome. New favorite tim cook quote.

 

[GenesisST]

I prefer my relatives to be on Android, to be honest. I can then say that I don't really know Android and can't help them if they have issues!

 

[rgwebb]

It has been several months to maybe a year since I've read on this subject but RCS is half-baked and doesn't have feature parity with iMessage protocol.

Implementing RCS in its current state would lead to weird feature availability edge cases. Notably, I do not believe RCS has end-to-end encryption for group messages whereas iMessage does do end-to-end encryption for group messages.

Article dated May 11, 2022

So, yeah, RCS is not ready for an immediate rollout from Apple in its current production state. Apple will likely wait several years after Google gets iMessage feature parity just to observe whether it has a ton of CVEs or outright data leakage problems that are unrecoverable without refactor.

 

[Babygotfont]

since messages surf over the telecom wires (at some point), the FCC will probably step in and force a mandate on uniform consistent protocols (ala USBC and the EU ... and the EU will probably beat the FCC to this fight)

 

[Apple247]

Consider all the 3rd-party apps that Apple, for once, ISN'T sherlocking. People should be dancing in the streets!

 

[ofarlig]

Even though the trends are showing people leaving android for iPhones?

Apparently, why else would they choose to provide a worse experience for people using iPhone that has friends/colleagues/family with Android?

Good thing that the EU legislators are working on forcing Apple to open their messaging services to non Apple devices.

“Cared about their users” who are on android?

No, caring about users that have iOS and interact with people using Android. My experience as an Apple customer is worse because Apple defaults to an ancient format for messages to non iOS devices, the other option is to use another messaging service and having multiple places for messages instead which also isn't a good experience.

If I were to switch to Android (which I've done a few times) my wife's experience would be way worse because she no longer could use iMessage to send me pictures and such, she could no longer use FaceTime when on a business trip.

 

[Breaking Good]

Set your Mum up with WhatsApp.

It's owned by Meta (a.k.a. Facebook).

What more do I need to say?

 

[bviktor]

I never ever used any messaging service that's a platform built-in feature.

How many messaging apps do we have? 9 million? Telegram, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, Signal, Viber, Discord, ... Just pick one. I couldn't care less.

 

[progx]

I mean, I get it from a business point of view, since tons of people want the “blue bubbles” to look cool, but from a technology stance it really doesn’t make sense

Apple always talks about being “innovative”, yet they are still adamant on using a 30-year-old protocol when there are way better options available as a standard.

Not saying that they can’t continue to develop exclusive features for iMessage, but I think it’s a bit ridiculous that in 2022 I’m still limited to sending someone a text or image if they don’t have an iPhone.

It might come down to the turbulent history of RCS. This new standard has been in development since 2007, but it has taken quite a long time to get here for it. Google has tried to push its own standard via it’s ecosystem (Talk, Allo, etc) before adopting RCS, so Apple is probably eyerolling the situation. The US carriers just adopted this over a year ago, along with Google, so Apple could be playing the waiting game on it.

Remember the original iPhone? Steve Jobs said to just call or email your friends, he said SMS was old and not fashionable for the iPhone. They changed their tune when the iPhone 3G was released and the next iPhone System Software Update pushed the App Store and SMS to the original. They are likely testing it, but I think they want to see all the Android manufacturers on board with it before they decide to implement it in Messages. If it has overwhelming support, then it’ll likely show up.

I’m not really up to date on this format, but I think this Android site’s article summarizes the state RCS nicely. It’s an opinion article, but I think this perspective is interesting. For example, my girlfriend and I text, but she’ll communicate multiple ways with her friends more so than me. She uses a Samsung phone, it’s a toss between her messages, Messenger and SnapChat. I’d say she relies on Messenger a lot for her family. SnapChat with her friends.

RCS is too little too late, and Google is having a tantrum over a lost battle

Google wants Apple to support RCS in iMessage. The problem is that RCS is an old protocol that solves none of the problems Google is facing.

www.androidauthority.com

It would be nice to have a new solution. SMS is long past due. However, RCS adoption on this scale is brand new since it has struggled right out of the gate after 2007. iPhone users are more likely to use their Messages app than their Android counterparts who have settled on other solutions (according to the article).

 

[progx]

Am I the only finding the humor in Tim’s response? ”Buy your Mom an iPhone.” Feels like something The Rock would say or something similar to the tech nerd no one wants to listen to 😆

All kidding aside, if this standard sticks, then I hope Apple adopts it. It was middle of last year the mass adoption started. Before then, it was Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint (pre-merger) working on implementing it in the US. AT&T had zero interest until last year.

If it starts to falter by next year or 2024… then we’ve got a bigger problem than Apple holding out in the tech world.

 

[MiniApple]

interoperability improvements are overdue - RCS or otherwise.
hopefully the new EU platform regulations (or from somewhere else) can make it happen.

 

[Rousey]

Google want RCS support but won't let you watch YouTube in PIP .. Right oh

 

[threesixty360]

Yes we know why Apple doesn’t want to do this. There’s just a better way of saying it than the way Tim answered.

The better way is to lie??

 

[Alpha God Vonn]

Makes sense, Tim knows they aren't coming out with much new things when it comes to iPhone hardware these days and if there weren't any iMessage barriers in place a lot more people would leave for Android devices. They are basically trying to lock people in instead of coming out with fun new hardware.

I can understand not jumping on RCS but if they cared about their users they'd make an iMessage app for Android.

Facts 💯💯💯

 

[Alpha God Vonn]

Google want RCS support but won't let you watch YouTube in PIP .. Right oh

Your so late ⏰ lmao

 

[Rousey]

Your so late ⏰ lmao

For what?

 

[6787872]

can't wait to see timmy tossed in jail for his anticompetitive practices.

 

[I7guy]

For a company that touts security, privacy and encryption at any chance they get,

This has nothing to do with adopting rcs. Privacy is about your pii and extended pii, security has to do with keeping the data in the apple ecosystem safe and apple can only encrypt what it has control over.

it is astounding they will not adopt RCS to improve message security. Well, let's tell him to put energy in to this. Sad we have to beg. https://www.apple.com/feedback/messages-ios-ipados.html

I’m not participating but thanks. Apple doesn’t want to participate Probably because google controls rcs.

 

[I7guy]

can't wait to see timmy tossed in jail for his anticompetitive practices.

Really? You think that actually has a snowballs chance in hell of happening?

 

[I7guy]

Damn, talk about an egotistical response. People here will praise Tim but “buy your mom an iPhone” sounds so unprofessional and obnoxious.

People here will diss Tim, because you know critics. But thats a great comeback.

 

[johnmarki]

I love the energy from Tim. However, I won't buy 1 more Apple product unless they place that picture of Tim as the wallpaper on ALL devices in the Apple Store. Your move Apple. ⏱ 🤣

 

[spinedoc77]

I don't understand what you are saying here. I use AirMessage, but how is that hurt by taking away the SIM slot? But then again. I use 2 phones rather than switching SIMS...

You can't use a phone number for iMessage anymore with BlueBubbles or AirMessage if SIMs are eliminated (you can still use your Apple email though), although I can't rule out the ability for another solution to come in the future, maybe there will be an e-SIM hack. That's an issue for me because 1) I don't want to give my personal email address to all my contacts, especially business contacts and 2) I already have hundreds of conversations started through my phone number and fixing that would entail starting new conversations and making those contacts put my email in their contacts list. It also adds confusion, when a contact wants to start a conversation with me they are going to have to decide if they want to send it through my phone number or email.

 

[oofio2461]

Apple's New Slogan: "Buy Your Mom An iPhone!"

 

[centauratlas]

There are already several free, end-to-end encrypted, multi-platform messaging apps out there such as WhatsApp, Signal, etc.

RCS isn't even encrypted.

There's plenty of competition already.

The lack of encryption throughout the RCS system (let alone whether it is using a Google or other off device key vs not) is the best reason to just say no to it.

Some people don't want corporations, let alone groups like the CSP/DFS/FSB/CIA/FBI/NSA/SEBIN etc, to have unfettered access to private communications despite the fact that some of them would like to profit from doing so.