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Apple’s Messages app and texting service iMessage are the subject of a lawsuit filed Thursday by the U.S. Department of Justice. The Justice Department and 16 state attorneys general allege that Apple is using its dominance in the U.S. mobile industry to stifle competition.
Despite new research into iMessage Apple has already announced plans to introduce RCS — A more modern messaging protocol with updated features is coming to iPhone this year. This is a big step toward bridging the gap between Android and iOS when it comes to cross-platform messaging experiences, as it supports features like input indicators, high-quality media sharing, and message encryption.
read more: Best iPhone of 2024
But until Apple starts offering these features, Apple’s Messages app will be useful to both the U.S. government and other private businesses like Beeper, which are trying to make their own text messaging services compatible with iMessage. It continues to be a big target for companies.
Apple typically waits until it releases the next version of iOS in the fall to introduce new cross-compatibility features. For example, Apple added the ability to create web-based links for FaceTime calls in iOS 15, allowing Windows and Android users to join. This suggests he won’t be asked about Apple’s progress on bringing RCS to iPhones until June, and then it could be rolled out in the fall.
But as pressure mounts, Apple can’t afford to wait.
Look at this: Department of Justice sues Apple: Everything you need to know about the antitrust case
iOS is already open due to government oversight
Before Thursday’s lawsuit, the EU was already pressuring Apple to make certain aspects of its iOS operating system public.
To comply with EU digital market laws, Apple must allow alternative app stores and digital payment methods on the iPhone. You should also provide a prompt to inform users that they can set a different default web browser besides Apple’s Safari. These changes are EU-only, but the regulation forced Apple to switch all iPhone 15 models sold internationally to USB-C.
Apple has avoided these regulations for iMessage in the EU, likely because of the international popularity of third-party chat apps like WhatsApp. But with added scrutiny from the U.S. government, Apple may need to be more transparent about how its messaging service operates and whether it’s actively hindering competition. unknown.
By speeding up RCS support, Apple could shift focus away from the currently limited texting experience between iPhone and Android and instead show how it’s working to change that. .
Beeper tried to bring iMessage to Android, but was shut out by Apple.
Beeps, Nothing, etc. keep trying to jump into iMessage
Apple needs to accelerate RCS adoption to avoid outside attempts to offer “iMessage for Android.”
Beeper Mini don’t chat anything They made headlines for their attempts to give Android access to iMessage, but both relied on loopholes in Apple’s services. In some cases, you may need to entrust your Apple ID and password to a third party, which may raise privacy concerns.
Other services like Blue Bubbles used an always-on Mac combined with software to route iMessage texts to Android devices, but these self-hosted options also come with their own security risks (Mac In addition to the logistical problems such as losing access if the power goes out)).
Apple aggressively shut down Beeper’s access to iMessage last year, but it satisfies Android users’ desire to text friends on iPhone with modern features like typing indicators and better group chat support. Services are appearing one after another. By rushing to respond to his RCS, Apple could distract people from seeking out these services and reduce security threats on its iMessage network.
Some Apple apps link to other services, such as the Phone app.
Apple could borrow Beeper’s new plan to publish messages
In addition to accelerating RCS efforts, Apple could borrow Beeper’s strategy to make its Messages app a hub for other texting apps.
The new Beeper app, currently in beta, will be your center for non-Apple text messaging services. Text messages from WhatsApp, Signal, and even Slack reportedly arrive in his one app and remain encrypted. I haven’t tested the Beeper beta yet, but I was an active Trillian user who compiled the instant messaging apps I used as a teenager (AIM, MSN, Yahoo Messenger).
Apple has already achieved this to some extent. Apple’s Phone app shows calls from multiple services, so if you want to start a video call with a friend on WhatsApp,[最近]You can do it from the list.
Apple will no longer require text from other services to appear in Messages. A simple Messages app notification and an indicator that it’s a WhatsApp conversation are all you need. Tapping this will take you to the appropriate app.
When should you actually expect RCS?
As much as I’d like to see RCS on the iPhone now, the reality is that Apple will likely stick to its traditional product schedule. More details and an early beta version of RCS may be revealed at his WWDC in June. If so, it will be generally available this fall as part of iOS 18 and the much-rumored iPhone 16 series.
I took over 600 photos with the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.see my favorites
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