Google really wants Apple to support RCS messaging

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Google has failed to establish a messaging platform for Android devices comparable to Apple’s iMessage. Between the slow death of Google Hangouts, the short life of Google Allo, and the gradual rollout of RCS that depends on specific applications (mainly Google Messages) or mobile network operators, Google hasn’t figured it out yet. That doesn’t stop the company from pushing Apple to implement RCS, though.

Rich Communication Services, or RCS for short, is a technology that aims to replace SMS. Most RCS implementations support larger files, read indicators, and other features common on Internet-based messaging services. Just like iMessage, WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, and some other applications, SMS uses phone numbers for identification and messaging if you are texting someone and both people have an RCS-enabled phone, your messages should use automatically the new technology.

In response to a Wall Street Journal article titled “Why Apple’s iMessage is Winning: Teens Fear the Green Text Bubble,” Hiroshi Lockheimer (SVP for Android, Chrome, Chrome OS, Google Play and Google Photos) said on Twitter: “Apple’s iMessage blocking is a documented strategy. Using peer pressure and bullying as a way to sell products is false for a company that has humanity and fairness as a key part of its marketing. Standards exist today to solve this problem. ” The official Twitter account for Android quoted Lockheimer’s message and added, “iMessage shouldn’t benefit from bullying. Text messaging should unite us and the solution exists. Let’s work it out as one industry.”

While neither tweet mentioned it directly, RCS is the standard that Google sees as the solution. Google initially relied on mobile network operators to add RCS support from them, but when it was moving too slowly, the company started enabling it for anyone who installed Google Messages as their default SMS application. However, RCS still requires Google or Samsung messaging apps (there is still no API for third-party apps, such as SMS), and end-to-end encryption is not always supported. RCS still relies on having (and sharing) a mobile number, instead of a free email address or other identifier.

Google supported cross-platform messaging in the days of Google Chat, using the open XMPP protocol (for example, people on AOL Instant Messenger and Google Chat could talk to each other), but the company discontinued its production in 2013.

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