A Google executive accuses Apple of using peer pressure and bullying to sell iPhones

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In October, Google Senior Vice President Hiroshi Lockheimer suggested that Apple end the battle between blue and green bubbles by incorporating Google’s Rich Communication Services (RCS) into the iOS Messages app. As you may know, features found on iOS such as end-to-end encryption are broken when an Android user is part of a group chat. Lockheimer, whose official Mountain View title is Senior Vice President of Platforms and Ecosystems, has more to say about RCS.

RCS is Google’s attempt to build a competitive SMS / MMS platform for Android users

First, for those who don’t know what RCS is, it’s Google’s attempt to build an SMS / MMS platform to compete with Apple’s Messages app. With RCS, Android users can send larger text messages, share larger media files, and have privacy thanks to end-to-end encryption. Google was even talking about using the platform as an e-commerce system that allows businesses to connect with customers.

Google Lockheimer SVP accuses Apple of using bullying and peer pressure to sell iPhone phones

RCS also offers Android users read receipts and would allow them to send messages over Wi-Fi and mobile data. With iOS support for RCS, the Google executive notes that there would be less pressure among young Americans to buy an iPhone. With RCS, texting an Android user would be a more modern and similar experience.

Prior to RCS, Google had an Android messaging app, and most US carriers also loaded Android phones with their own messaging app bloatware which led to a confusing jumble of features across different carrier apps.

Lockheimer, who is a strong RCS supporter, tweeted comments related to a Wall Street Journal article about iMessage dominance among texting teens. This had led to young Android users feeling left out when texting iOS users. Lockheimer wrote: “Apple’s iMessage lock-in is a documented strategy. Using peer pressure and bullying as a way to sell products is false for a company that has humanity and equity as a core part. of its marketing. Standards exist today to solve this problem. “

Yesterday, the Android Twitter account retweeted Lockheimer’s comment on bullying. Some of the responses appear to come from iPhone users and have been directed at Android owners complaining about iMessage. For example, a Twitter user named Pandemic Mike (@reidermeister) said, “The fact that you drive a Tesla is not right for all people who need to buy gasoline. Give me a break. You want to use iMessage buy an iPhone. If you want an Android device you will have to live with what Android offers or bypass it (WhatsApp). Crying for iMessage is getting silly. “

There is no technological reason why iMessage and RCS cannot coexist

Not all Twitter users took Apple’s side. A subscriber named Remon (@TheGreatUsurper) said, “The typical iPhone user misses the point. Android has an equivalent of iMessage, it uses a protocol to replace SMS. All major carriers already support the standard. Android users write about Wi-Fi and data, (get) read receipts, great group chats and (and) reactions. Apple intentionally damages communication. “

As Lockheimer points out, there’s no technological reason why iOS and Android can’t coexist on a combined platform. He believes Apple’s decision not to support RCS was made so that Apple continues to benefit from the vendor lockdown effect. In 2016, Apple’s Phil Schiller said that “moving iMessage to Android will harm us more than help us.” Apple’s chief software officer Craig Federighi stated that “iMessage on Android would simply be used to remove [an] obstacle to iPhone families giving their children Android phones. “

Google’s SVP believes that with iOS support for RCS, there would be less pressure on teens to buy an iPhone. Along the same lines, there would also be less pressure on teenagers’ parents to buy them an iPhone instead of an Android phone. And because some Android phones are much cheaper than iPhone models, not allowing Apple’s Messages platform to integrate with RCS is theoretically costing consumers a great deal of money every year.

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