Google, a technological giant, has paved the way for Apple users to experience more freedom when sending messages. This pertains to the well-known blue text bubbles that are synonymous with Apple's messaging platform, iMessage.
Said bubbles are universally recognized amongst users of iOS devices, serving as a visual confirmation that the message was sent using Apple's proprietary platform. The emphasis on these coloured bubbles has led to a somewhat unspoken division between Apple and non-Apple users.
For the uninitiated, blue bubbles represent messages sent between Apple devices through iMessage. It even offers extra features such as end-to-end encryption. Green bubbles, on the other hand, denote standard SMS (Short Message Service) texts.
This distinction, while perhaps minor, has created a subtle form of tribalism among smartphone users. Many Apple users have been known to favor communication with those within their blue-bubble ecosystem, largely due to the additional features and perceived superiority of iMessage over standard SMS.
Google Breaks the Monopoly
Prompted by this blue-green divide, Google embarked on a mission to implement Rich Communication Services (RCS) more seamlessly throughout the Android operating system. RCS is the modern successor to SMS, and its implementation allows for a slew of extra features. These features include group chats, file and location sharing, and read receipts, to name a few.
However, it wasn't until T-Mobile's support for RCS that the dominoes began to fall in Google's favor. With T-Mobile's nationwide support, nearly all Android devices now universally embraced the transition from SMS to RCS.
Then, Google applied pressure on Apple to adopt RCS and let go of the exclusivity of blue text bubbles. It took two years, but Google's RCS protocol (often regarded as 'Chat') was eventually rolled out to all Android users. It was hoped that this could be a way for Android users to gain their own version of iMessage.
However, the issue was that Apple's iMessage was still the preferred service for iOS users, and Android's 'Chat' offered little incentive for Apple users to switch platforms. This was exacerbated by the fact that Apple's 'green bubble' persisted when Android users tried to send messages to iMessage users.
Regulatory Steps Initiated
Google took the matters to the next level and pushed regulatory authorities to step in. The company filed a formal complaint to authorize the universal transition from SMS to RCS. Multiple regulatory authorities agreed with Google's stance.
One such supporter was the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) Association, which labeled Apple's blue-green bubble segregation as harmful to consumers. This marked a significant advancement in Google's endeavor to create a more unified messaging platform.
The regulatory pressures pushed Apple to finally offer support for RCS and open up iMessage to non-Apple devices. In time, Apple complied and released an update incorporating RCS into its messaging system.
This step wasn't just an advancement for greater tech unity, but it had wider implications. For iPhone users, it meant that they would be able to communicate with Android users without the pesky green bubble distinction.
Implications for End Users
Implemented correctly, RCS could universally replace SMS, leading to a more egalitarian messaging ecosystem. It would enable users on different mobile operating systems to interact seamlessly via messages, eradicating barriers between different platforms.
For Apple users, this could mean the end of the sole reliance on iMessage for enhanced messaging features with Android users. It could potentially lead to a more diversified consumer environment, where users can freely choose a device without considering the limitations of messaging.
Interestingly, this would also reduce the 'blue bubble' elitism that has become synonymous with the iMessage platform. It could, perhaps, lead to less of a focus on the device that one chooses to use and more focus on the application and practicality of the device itself.
For Android users, the implications are even greater. An Android device that was previously limited to the stigmatized green bubble would now be on par with iPhone users, at least regarding messaging capabilities.