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Google argues iMessage should be regulated by the EU's Digital Markets Act

arstechnica.com

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Re: Google argues iMessage should be regulated by the EU's Digital Markets Act

#11

Post by chmod775 »

nikanj wrote: post #9
superduty wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Breaking the law?

”They’re not allowing our spam on your phones!” I get so much SMS and email spam. I get so little iMessage spam. If getting green texts from Android users is the price I have to pay, so be it.

SMS spam in Europe? Living in Germany I haven't gotten a single unsolicited SMS in my life - and some of my phone numbers are public on the internet.

Re: Google argues iMessage should be regulated by the EU's Digital Markets Act

#12

Post by nerdjon »

kwanbix wrote: post #7

I really don't get what is it that people like so much about iMessage that they use it instead of WhatsApp or even Telegram or Signal. I really don't get it. Can anyone explain what is it that is so good that you end up using a solution that 40% in the USA and 60% in the rest of the world cannot use?

In the US we used text messages for years so just sticking with that makes sense. I guess most of us just never really saw a reason to move to anything else. Why would I when I have been communicating with everyone through my phone number for 15ish years?

I have honestly been curious why the rest of the world doesn't do this? Was SMS not used as much?

Re: Google argues iMessage should be regulated by the EU's Digital Markets Act

#13

Post by matt123456789 »

kwanbix wrote: post #7

I really don't get what is it that people like so much about iMessage that they use it instead of WhatsApp or even Telegram or Signal. I really don't get it. Can anyone explain what is it that is so good that you end up using a solution that 40% in the USA and 60% in the rest of the world cannot use?

You answered your question with your last sentence.

Re: Google argues iMessage should be regulated by the EU's Digital Markets Act

#14

Post by plumeria »

kwanbix wrote: post #7

I really don't get what is it that people like so much about iMessage that they use it instead of WhatsApp or even Telegram or Signal. I really don't get it. Can anyone explain what is it that is so good that you end up using a solution that 40% in the USA and 60% in the rest of the world cannot use?

It is wild to me that someone prefers to use a medium that is not end-to-end encrypted.

Re: Google argues iMessage should be regulated by the EU's Digital Markets Act

#15

Post by andyferris »

kwanbix wrote: post #7

I really don't get what is it that people like so much about iMessage that they use it instead of WhatsApp or even Telegram or Signal. I really don't get it. Can anyone explain what is it that is so good that you end up using a solution that 40% in the USA and 60% in the rest of the world cannot use?

I think built-in to your phone is part of it. It’s also very simple and replaces SMS automagically.

Otherwise you need to sign up and log in to some other service. Meaning everyone you talk to needs to do the same. With the SMS fallback this doesn’t “feel” like that.

Re: Google argues iMessage should be regulated by the EU's Digital Markets Act

#16

Post by nerdjon »

I do have some slightly concerns about iMessage being opened up and no longer linked to Apple products for a spam standpoint. But I get plenty of SMS spam so I guess it's really not much of a difference.

However kinda related I am curious about RCS. I tried looking this up but I can't find much concrete information on it. Is it actually universally E2E or only some? I find some reddit posts implying it's some.

Do all RCS messages go through Google's servers? Or some other central servers that are not the involved carriers.

Re: Google argues iMessage should be regulated by the EU's Digital Markets Act

#17

Post by nickthegreek »

kwanbix wrote: post #7

I really don't get what is it that people like so much about iMessage that they use it instead of WhatsApp or even Telegram or Signal. I really don't get it. Can anyone explain what is it that is so good that you end up using a solution that 40% in the USA and 60% in the rest of the world cannot use?

WhatsApp is owned by Facebook. Signal is a SUPER pain in the ass, and you need a phone number. I dont know a single person who uses Telegram where I live.

Re: Google argues iMessage should be regulated by the EU's Digital Markets Act

#18

Post by mattmanser »

nerdjon wrote: post #12
kwanbix wrote: post #7

I really don't get what is it that people like so much about iMessage that they use it instead of WhatsApp or even Telegram or Signal. I really don't get it. Can anyone explain what is it that is so good that you end up using a solution that 40% in the USA and 60% in the rest of the world cannot use?

In the US we used text messages for years so just sticking with that makes sense. I guess most of us just never really saw a reason to move to anything else. Why would I when I have been communicating with everyone through my phone number for 15ish years? I have honestly been curious why the rest of the world doesn't do this? Was SMS not used as much?

You were actually late to text messages, not early.

The US still had huge pager numbers when consumers in the EU was all in on text messages.

For example this article discusses low SMS usage in the US from 2000:

https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/07/technology/us-is-lagging-...

Just like you were late to dropping cheques vs chip and pin, the US has been a laggard in consumer adoption of some technologies. Might be something to do with the relative power of your state governments vs federal meaning your infrastructure is sometimes less co-ordinated, as a guess.

Re: Google argues iMessage should be regulated by the EU's Digital Markets Act

#19

Post by dontlaugh »

chmod775 wrote: post #11
nikanj wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

”They’re not allowing our spam on your phones!” I get so much SMS and email spam. I get so little iMessage spam. If getting green texts from Android users is the price I have to pay, so be it.

SMS spam in Europe? Living in Germany I haven't gotten a single unsolicited SMS in my life - and some of my phone numbers are public on the internet.

Happens to me sometimes in the UK

Re: Google argues iMessage should be regulated by the EU's Digital Markets Act

#20

Post by nerdjon »

mattmanser wrote: post #18
nerdjon wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the US we used text messages for years so just sticking with that makes sense. I guess most of us just never really saw a reason to move to anything else. Why would I when I have been communicating with everyone through my phone number for 15ish years? I have honestly been curious why the rest of the world doesn't do this? Was SMS not used as much?

You were actually late to text messages, not early. The US still had huge pager numbers when consumers in the EU was all in on text messages. For example this article discusses low SMS usage in the US from 2000: https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/07/technology/us-is-lagging-... Just like you were late to dropping cheques vs chip and pin, the US has been a laggard in consumer adoption of some technologies. Might be somet…

I can't read the article but going on what you said... that's interesting.

Then I really don't understand why did the EU just not stick with SMS (and iMessage). Like what was the value of going with a new app.

I was just using this same number with SMS on dumb phones... why would I switch?

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