this post was submitted on 18 Sep 2024
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The nice thing about SMS is its on everyone's phone by default.
No apps to download and no accounts to make. Adding someone is a simple 9 digit number.
imessage bridged the gap between bacsic SMS and feature-rich messages. With them both being in one app and handled automatically, it is very convenient to use. While the extra features are limited to apple phones, you can use imessage to universally message any other phone.
~~Google made a their own thing, RCS, to compete with imessage.~~ ~~They made it an open~~ RCS is a standard ~~and worked~~ that works with carriers to make it so any phone could use it. it took Apple ~~7~~ years since release to add support.
Finally, you can text pretty much anyone with a smart phone a message with the "extra features" without hassle.
Google did not make RCS; RCS is made by GSM consortium as succession of SMS, Google extended it to add some extra features such as end to end encryption (but only when messages are routed through their servers).
China mandated 5G sold in China must support RCS, hence why Apple added support for this. Since Google is basically banned in China, you can pretty much bet RCS going into/out of China is going to be unencrypted.
So you’re basically stuck between getting inferior unencrypted messages, or routing everything through Google.
Avoid RCS like the plague.
Thanks for the info. I adjusted that section a bit, probably should more effort into the edit. Will read up on it some more in near future.
My point about the simplicity of using the "stock*" messesing app is still relevant for non-tech people. Grandpa doesn't want 6 different messesging apps. The easy phone number/pre-installed/near-universal/moslty cross-platform nature of them is a huge advanatge. Only downside, it has a pricy subscription called "the phone bill".
*i say stock in this case to pretty much include any app that uses your phone number and accepts sms/mms from another phone. For most people, thatll be the stock message app their phone comes with.