Apple Plans to Bridge the Gap Between iPhones + Androids
The clash between the blue text bubbles of iOS and the green ones of Android is soon ending. Anticipated changes are set to address persistent issues like fuzzy videos, dysfunctional group chats, and encryption gaps. This would make for a more seamless experience for users accustomed to texting between iPhones and Android devices.
In a recent announcement, Apple shared plans to adopt the messaging standard RCS (Rich Communication Services). This move will extend iMessage features to Android users. This change comes with a range of improvements, including read receipts, typing indicators, enhanced group chat support, and higher-quality media sharing.
Apple is finally bringing RCS to iPhones.
Apple has confirmed its intention to integrate support for RCS Universal Profile sometime next year. RCS, positioned as an alternative to traditional options like SMS, works seamlessly over both Wi-Fi and mobile data, providing a versatile communication solution.
According to a statement from Apple to CNN, they believe that “We believe RCS Universal Profile will offer a better interoperability experience when compared to SMS or MMS.” The statement also emphasized that iMessage will continue to provide the pinnacle of secure messaging for Apple users.
This change follows requests from Google for Apple to include RCS support for iPhones. Google’s Hiroshi Lockheimer, SVP at Google, had previously addressed the “green bubbles” visual distinction issue in a tweet last year. Despite the adoption of RCS, messages from iPhones to Android devices will still appear in green bubbles, maintaining the familiar visual identifier for non-iMessage communication, according to 9to5Mac.
The enduring debate over green versus blue bubbles has been utilized in advertising campaigns by Google and Samsung to highlight perceived shortcomings in Apple’s historical approach to RCS support.
In a recent disclosure, Apple acknowledged its intent to make policy changes to align with forthcoming guidelines, as reported by TechCrunch earlier this month. This suggests Apple’s commitment to adapting to evolving standards and ensuring a smoother user experience across its platforms.