Re:Android isn't cool with teenagers, and that's a big problem
by pseudalopex on Wednesday November 15, 2023 @04:47PM
(#38283016)
Do you believe Google would not work with Apple on a compatible protocol if Apple would work with Google? Or block Apple from shipping iMessage for Android? Apple's strategy of using iMessage for lock in is public record.[1]
[1] https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/9/22375128/apple-imessage-an...
Re:Android isn't cool with teenagers, and that's a big problem
by mardifoufs on Wednesday November 15, 2023 @11:31PM
(#38285808)
Well google does not allow any access to Android's RCS API, and basically uses a non open source extension for encryption. So yes, if they wanted RCS to not be their own little fiefdom, they would've just done so. Theres absolutely no reason to not allow access to the API except for lock in. I think only Samsung has a deal with them to actually be able to use RCS in their messaging app.
Re:Android isn't cool with teenagers, and that's a big problem
by pseudalopex on Thursday November 16, 2023 @01:05PM
(#38293097)
I didn't ask if they thought Google were reliable champions of openness. I asked if they believed Google would not work with Apple to diminish Apple's lock in. Screwing 3rd party apps long after Apple did doesn't show Google would have not or would not work with Apple.
I don't recall the precise details at the moment, but there are very good reasons for Apple not to prefer RCS—I believe one of them was that it is too heavily tied to the carriers.
In general, I am very much a proponent of not allowing the perfect to become the enemy of the good; however, there are times when that breaks down in practice, and I believe this is one of them. In particular, if RCS is adopted as "the next messaging system" tomorrow, and then next year a much better open cross-platform messaging protocol is developed, it is vanishingly unlikely that it would be adopted. In fact, it's unlikely that any other system would be able to replace RCS for several more years, simply because everyone had just changed, and would be unwilling to change again for some time.