What a wacky and wild experience it has been for the previous few years. In case you missed the information, Apple has introduced that will probably be adopting RCS (Wealthy Communication Companies) “later subsequent yr.” That is simply the most recent shift that Apple has made, whether or not forcefully or in any other case, in an effort to appease the lots.
Simply this yr alone, Apple launched USB-C to the iPhone 15 lineup, due largely to the E.U. signing its new “Frequent Charger” order. Whereas it was positively a very long time coming, we nonetheless did not count on to see USB-C arrive till the iPhone 16.
Extra just lately, the most recent iOS 17.2 beta updates counsel that Apple may very well be opening the floodgates to permit proper sideloading of apps. However once more, this was carried out as extra strain got here from the E.U. courtesy of the Digital Markets Act.
The DMA was handed by the E.U. in July 2022, aiming to “maintain tech giants accountable for the unfold of unlawful content material on-line and for probably unfair practices.” Apple, together with different corporations, has since been labeled as a “gatekeeper.” Which means whereas it “will preserve all alternatives to innovate and supply new providers,” Apple can’t “use unfair practices” in an effort to “achieve an undue benefit.”
At a look, Apple’s announcement regarding RCS support coming to the iPhone may seem to be the corporate simply listening to what the folks need. However in all probability, that is simply Apple getting in entrance of a possible authorized battle if the E.U. have been to try to implement any sanctions associated to the DMA.
iMessage has at all times been some extent of rivalry, even after the DMA was handed. However it wasn’t till just lately that reports surfaced claiming that Google, together with others, was getting down to get the E.U. concerned. These corporations argue that “iMessage ought to qualify as a ‘core platform service’ inside the EU’s Digital Markets Act.”
No, Nothing did not power Apple to undertake RCS
Nothing just lately introduced that it has bought no less than 2 million merchandise because the firm’s inception again in 2020. These are nice numbers, and I am excited to see what the longer term holds for Nothing and Carl Pei. However there’s a little bit of a priority that the latest “Nothing Chat” announcement may make it seem to be Nothing “influenced” Apple to make the change.
Initially, this piece was going to be about Nothing’s latest announcement that it was going to bring iMessage to the Nothing Phone (2) with Nothing Chat. This was going to be carried out in partnership with Sunbird, an utility and repair that is not all that completely different from Beeper and others.
Even with all the advertising {dollars} that Google threw into its #GetTheMessage campaign, it wasn’t sufficient to push Apple over the sting. So, whereas I am positive that Carl Pei and the Nothing crew want to take credit score for Apple’s newest announcement, it could’t. And albeit, it should not wish to.
As an apart, Google must be thrilled over this announcement, contemplating how lengthy it has been pushing for Apple to undertake RCS. Forward of publishing this text, we reached out for remark and obtained the next:
“Everybody deserves to speak with one another in methods which might be fashionable and safe, it doesn’t matter what cellphone they’ve. That’s why now we have labored carefully with the cellular business to speed up the adoption of RCS, and we’re completely satisfied to see Apple take their first step in the present day by approaching board to embrace RCS. We welcome Apple’s participation in our ongoing work with GSMA to evolve RCS and make messaging extra equitable and safe, and look ahead to working with them to implement this on iOS in a means that works nicely for everybody.”
Safety issues have been inevitable
On one hand, I might wish to tip my cap to Carl Pei and the Nothing crew for being the primary to throw cash on the drawback via its partnership with Sunbird. However on the opposite, that simply opens one other black gap of issues, a few of which you should not even take into account.
The largest drawback with these apps like Sunbird and Beeper, is likely one of the identical the reason why Apple stood behind what iMessage affords; safety. I am not speaking about simply giving up an electronic mail handle or having to replace your password. I am speaking about tying your Apple ID (no less than) and cellphone quantity (at most) to a tool that you do not have entry to.
Shortly after Nothing’s announcement went public, an organization spokesperson provided the following statement in regard to privateness and safety: “When you log in to the Chats app for the primary time utilizing both your current Apple ID or creating a brand new one, your credentials are tokenized in an encrypted database and change into related to one in every of Sunbird’s North America or Europe-based Mac Minis (relying on the place you’re positioned), creating an encrypted relay for iMessages despatched via the app.”
The corporate goes on to state that “Sunbird has its ISO27001 certification and is at the moment engaged on ISO27701.” ISO 27001 is a set of tips created by the Worldwide Group for Standardization (ISMS,) for a way corporations present “handle danger related to info safety threats.” ISO 27701 is basically simply an extension of ISO 27001, however has extra of a give attention to “personally identifiable info.”
In order that’s all nice, superb, and dandy. It is every thing that Sunbird ought to be doing on this situation, if no more. However on the finish of the day, when you join Sunbird, Beeper, or Nothing Chat, your info shall be on a pc that you haven’t any bodily entry to.
To offer you just a bit instance of why this complete charade could not play out the way in which that Nothing hopes, one thing bizarre just lately began occurring with my very own Beeper account. I’ve had my info hooked up to Beeper for a while now, because it simply makes my life simpler contemplating that I am at all times carrying each an iPhone and no matter foldable phone has my consideration.
Over the previous month or so, I’ve began getting messages from numbers that are not in my contact listing. A few of them are texting me pondering that I am another person, whereas others discover my quantity of their contact listing and don’t know the way it bought there. I too, have observed cellphone numbers in my listing of contacts from locations and areas that I’ve by no means been to.
Cellphone numbers I do not know should not be texting me, asking why my quantity is of their contact listing.
Do you wish to know when it stopped occurring? Once I went into my Apple ID settings and eliminated the Mac that Beeper was utilizing from having the ability to entry my account.
Placing on my tin-foil hat for a second, it is already bothersome that my cellphone quantity reveals up for contacts that I do not know. It is extraordinarily troublesome to know that somebody might achieve entry to accounts that also have 2FA over SMS arrange. If somebody finally ends up having access to my info, that may very well be it, and issues might snowball moderately shortly.
Why RCS on iPhone issues
Apple adopting RCS as a messaging commonplace is not as lower and dry as you may first assume. This in all probability doesn’t suggest that the “blue bubble vs. inexperienced bubble” debate will lastly be buried. Within the assertion supplied to 9to5Mac, Apple says, “This may work alongside iMessage, which is able to proceed to be the perfect and most safe messaging expertise for Apple customers.”
However I am not sitting right here and saying that this can be a big win for Google or an enormous win for Apple. It is an enormous win for everybody, so long as we are able to lastly get some feature-parity when messaging between both iOS or Android.
Whereas doing analysis for my authentic piece, I got here throughout just a few moderately upsetting examples of how the blue vs. inexperienced bubble impacts these exterior of the tech-sphere. The one which caught out probably the most comes from Dan Seifert of The Verge:
However the actuality is that this is not something new. Again in October, rapper Drake launched a brand new album that includes a track that makes a glancing mention about how “she bought a Android, her messages is lime inexperienced.” For some, it is only a joke, however for others, being ignored of group chats all due to the cellphone that you just use is a actuality.
The article that Dan is referencing comes from Will Sattelberg of Android Police, highlighting a latest survey the place “87 % of youngsters surveyed personal an iPhone, whereas 88 % count on to purchase an iPhone as their subsequent gadget.” As Will so eloquently places it, “these are loss of life spiral numbers for Android.”
It is not due to the apps which might be out there, or whether or not you’ll be able to sideload, or something of the kind. It has every thing to do with iMessage. That is completely bonkers when you think about the world exterior of the U.S., the place iMessage falls fully flat on its face when in comparison with the likes of WhatsApp and different messaging apps on Android.
Not often can we take into consideration the world exterior of our periphery, as a result of it would not have an effect on us. What does have an effect on us — even when it is not straight affecting you — is the classism that comes when arguing between utilizing an iPhone and an Android cellphone. This, alone, is the explanation why I am completely satisfied that Apple is lastly reducing its walled backyard a bit extra, even when it is making an attempt to keep away from one other battle with the E.U.