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Google Is Taking Charge of the RCS Rollout

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Re: Google Is Taking Charge of the RCS Rollout

#21

Post by Nextgrid »

themacguffinman wrote: post #13
iwasakabukiman wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> At this point everyone is too burned by Google releasing new messaging apps and then sunsetting them year later. What if they just released an upgrade to their existing Messages app and enrolled everyone by default in a new Google version of iMessage? That's basically what Apple did. Upgrade to iOS 5 and you're automatically enrolled in iMessage without any extra steps. Suddenly your messaging experience just got a…

The EU would take them to court before the rollout was finished.

Not sure. There’s strong competition in the market in the form of iMessage (and others - see WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, etc) so I doubt there would be grounds for an anti-trust lawsuit.

Re: Google Is Taking Charge of the RCS Rollout

#22

Post by v7p1Qbt1im »

Nextgrid wrote: post #21
themacguffinman wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The EU would take them to court before the rollout was finished.

Not sure. There’s strong competition in the market in the form of iMessage (and others - see WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, etc) so I doubt there would be grounds for an anti-trust lawsuit.

There is yes. But Messages would presumably be preinstalled. In that case the EU would have a problem with it most likely.

If it weren‘t preinstalled. We‘ll then it‘s pretty much Signal for example and that doesn‘t solve the problem. iMessage works because it‘s preinstalled and default.

It‘s a miracle and kind of ironic that SMS being non-free drove the whole world (except the US where it was) away from it.

Re: Google Is Taking Charge of the RCS Rollout

#23

Post by Someone1234 »

A lot of people seem excited by RCS. This escapes me, most messaging platforms have now moved into the "integrations" space.

Meaning they're less defined by delivering a message, and more defined by the "value add" services they offer (like Payments, Notifications from third party services, customer support for third party services, etc).

RCS is more powerful than MMS, but less powerful than the internet-based messaging platforms it is competing against. It is also confined by geography, is confined to cellular devices, and disposes of anonymity/privacy.

Why would I want this? It takes me from the current requirement of "only needs an internet connection" to "need a cellular plan and device." It takes me from any moniker I want to [my phone number]. It takes me from "anyone in the world" to "US only." And on and on.

I don't get it. Why should I or anyone else care about RCS? Why do people? It seems like it solves yesterday's problems next week.

Re: Google Is Taking Charge of the RCS Rollout

#24

Post by v7p1Qbt1im »

amanzi wrote: post #20

This is embarrassingly bad for Google. Their failure in creating a stable and long-lived messaging platform is well known but I can't believe they are committing so much into something with so much reliance on network operators and handset manufacturers that doesn't meed the needs of a modern, secure platform.

Guess what happens when they create a preinstalled default messaging app with SMS fallback all running on their own platform (like iMessage). You guessed it, antitrust. Influential OEMs and Carriers would complain and so would the EU.

Re: Google Is Taking Charge of the RCS Rollout

#25

Post by entropea »

joshstrange wrote: post #9

The only SMS's I get nowadays are from automated systems (bill pay reminders, shipping, energy usage, etc). I don't talk to a single friend over SMS anymore. It's either iMessage or FB messenger (for Android people). Both of those provide a MUCH better experience and even if Apple ever supports RCS (I kind of hope they don't and it dies off) I won't use it without encryption. RCS is such a clusterfuck and I the carri…

I use Android and moved my entire family and friend base to Signal and no longer talk to people outside of Signal unless something automated sends me SMS/MMS. Encryption is a must for me. Thinking about moving to iOS because of the privacy & encryption.

Re: Google Is Taking Charge of the RCS Rollout

#26

Post by entropea »

Barrin92 wrote: post #14
Vrondi wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would we want to move from SMS to a situation where Facebook ALSO has a copy of every message we send? Not an improvement.

facebook doesn't store your (sent) whatsapp messages, and in contrast to sms they're by default encrypted. "Your Messages. We do not retain your messages in the ordinary course of providing our Services to you. Once your messages (including your chats, photos, videos, voice messages, files, and share location information) are delivered, they are deleted from our servers. Your messages are stored on your own device. I…

Just like they weren't using your 2FA data to sell ads. At this point, it's best to assume that Facebook is watching at all times, even if they say they aren't. Does anyone propose anything really 'crazy out there' that Facebook does that actually doesn't eventually come true?

https://techcrunch.com/2018/09/27/yes-facebook-is-using-your...

Re: Google Is Taking Charge of the RCS Rollout

#27

Post by dbbk »

dmitrygr wrote: post #2

RCS solves NONE of the problems that need solving, and only gives carriers another thing to charge for. Specifically: * the spec is very very complex, and most parts are optional, so no two phones/carriers/manufacturers/OS versions will ever agree on anything but the basic minimal set of features. * there is no specification for end-to-end encryption, and even if there were, it would be optional (as noted above) * RC…

* Phone number-as-identity is so stupid, even apple admitted it

iMessage automatically working with phone numbers was the main reason it catapulted to such high usage so quickly. People didn't have to change their workflow, they just got brought into it automatically.

Re: Google Is Taking Charge of the RCS Rollout

#28

Post by untog »

Someone1234 wrote: post #23

A lot of people seem excited by RCS. This escapes me, most messaging platforms have now moved into the "integrations" space. Meaning they're less defined by delivering a message, and more defined by the "value add" services they offer (like Payments, Notifications from third party services, customer support for third party services, etc). RCS is more powerful than MMS, but less powerful than the internet-based messag…

Primarily because of interoperability. There is still no messaging format as ubiquitous as SMS, and it's a constant annoyance to me that my friends on Android don't receive my (photo/video/group) messages as easily as my friends with iPhones do. Sure, everyone could switch to one of the third party services out there, but it's been years and they still haven't. So I'm all for establishing a new baseline that doesn't try to do everything and just builds on the foundation already existing in SMS.

Re: Google Is Taking Charge of the RCS Rollout

#29

Post by dbbk »

Barrin92 wrote: post #14
Vrondi wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would we want to move from SMS to a situation where Facebook ALSO has a copy of every message we send? Not an improvement.

facebook doesn't store your (sent) whatsapp messages, and in contrast to sms they're by default encrypted. "Your Messages. We do not retain your messages in the ordinary course of providing our Services to you. Once your messages (including your chats, photos, videos, voice messages, files, and share location information) are delivered, they are deleted from our servers. Your messages are stored on your own device. I…

I really don't think the average person cares if their texts are end-to-end encrypted, though. I'm not sure most people even know what that would mean.

Re: Google Is Taking Charge of the RCS Rollout

#30

Post by joefkelley »

If lack of end-to-end encryption is the price to pay to get carriers to implement the features I want - better group messages, read receipts, better quality photo sharing, typing indicators, etc - then sign me up.

And Google taking the lead by implementing this for free seems like it should put a stop to any worry that carriers will charge for it.

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