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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

#21

Post by mcfedr »

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?

It was, but was long charged per message, so things like WhatsApp were quickly appealing, also for group chat, that SMS never did

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

#22

Post by garciasn »

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've never used WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal but I have used iMessage/SMS. I really don't consider iMessage anything separate from being able to send SMSs; I just know that sometimes my messages are green and most are blue.

I'd be surprised if iMessage users think as much about this as much as Android users and/or Google execs do.

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

#23

Post by kstrauser »

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’s there and it takes zero setup. I’ve never seen anything in the alternatives other than that appeals to me.

With Messages.app, I can communicate with 100% of my contacts without switching apps. The question isn’t why I haven’t moved to something else, but why I would ever want to.

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

#24

Post by SirMaster »

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?

Because if I put someone's phone number into my Messages app, 100% of people will receive my messages with no issue.

To decide to use WhatsApp or Signal or Telegram etc I would have to find out if they even have that service/app set up or not. And they have to have the app installed and signed in etc.

With iMessage/SMS there is no setup, no sign-in, no approval process or anything.

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

#26

Post by pohuing »

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.

I'm a mother for weirdly may children who have new phone numbers, considering I'm a single male at 25yo. That's the primary spam in Germany for me. But Google filters those messages perfectly

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

#27

Post by LispSporks22 »

Why doesn't Google have a go at building something better than iMessage rather than beg for regulations? Also, wrt to RCS its very much carrier oriented, and I personally would not want to have anything to do with them – next thing you know they'll have pay-for tiers or goddamn advertising in my messages.

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

#28

Post by marcod »

nerdjon wrote: post #20
mattmanser wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

SMS were expensive in Europe.

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

#30

Post by changoplatanero »

plumeria wrote: post #14
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.

I think you would find that most iphone users don't even know what end-to-end encryption is.
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