Google wants you to ‘help’ Apple get the message to improve texting on smartphones – Times of India

Google’s ‘Get The Message’ campaign pressures Apple into adopting RCS

Google launched a new public campaign, ‘Get The Message,’ pressuring Apple to adopt RCS (Rich Communication Services), a new cross-platform messaging protocol aimed at replacing the SMS and MMS protocols. And it is not the first time Google is trying to persuade Apple, but the Cupertino giant has been acting aloof.
However, this time, Google has gone full-in with a website, and a hashtag, #GetTheMessage, leaving no stone unturned to shame Apple publicly, forcing it to jump on the RCS wagon. The campaign’s website argues why Apple should adopt RCS for its Messages app, reading, “It’s time for Apple to fix texting.”
The good old ‘blue bubble, green bubble’ debate continues
Apple’s Messages or iMessage works seamlessly among the ecosystem and also offers a number of features compared to SMS, but it is futile towards Android. With iMessage, users get end-to-end encryption, can share high-quality images and videos and have group conversations. But that excludes Android users.
So, if an iPhone user is texting with an Android user, they will not have the same privileges; there is no end-to-end encryption, images and videos go low-res, and the group conversation is very 90s. Also, the text appears in a green bubble, which is quite an issue in the western part of the globe.
Will Apple ever adopt the RCS?
Over the last year, Google has been subtly poking Apple to move to RCS for its Messages app. The search giant roped in Drake for a musical explainer, “Texts Go Green.” It has also been dropping hints at Twitter for a while now.
Well, Google does have some valid points. And RCS could fix this divide. But it seems highly unlikely that Apple would adopt RCS. However, who knows, things might change in the future if Google succeeds in convincing Apple.