Google executive accuses Apple of using peer pressure and bullying to sell iPhones

RCS is Google’s attempt to create a competitive SMS / MMS platform for Android users

First, for those who don’t know what RCS is, it’s Google’s attempt to create an SMS / MMS platform to compete with Apple’s Messages app. With RCS, Android users can send larger text messages, share larger media files, and enjoy privacy with end-to-end encryption. Google was even talking about using the platform as an e-commerce system for businesses to connect with customers.

Google SVP Lockheimer accuses Apple of using bullying and peer pressure to sell iPhone handsets

RCS also gives Android users read receipts and would allow them to send messages over Wi-Fi and mobile data. With iOS support for RCS, the Google executive notes that there would be less pressure among young Americans to buy an iPhone. With RCS, sending a message to an Android user would be a more modern and similar experience.

Lockheimer, who is a strong supporter of RCS, tweeted comments related to a the Wall Street newspaper article on iMessage’s dominance among texting teens. This has led young Android users to feel left out when texting iOS users. Lockheimer wrote: “Locking down Apple’s iMessage is a documented strategy. Using peer pressure and bullying as a means to sell products is misleading for a business that has humanity and fairness at the heart of its marketing. Standards exist today to address this problem. . “

There is no technological reason why iMessages and RCS cannot coexist

Not all Twitter users sided with Apple. A follower named Remon (@TheGreatUsurper) said, “The typical iPhone user doesn’t understand. Android has an iMessage equivalent, it uses a protocol to replace SMS. All major operators already support the standard. ) read receipts, great group discussions and / and feedback. Apple intentionally interferes with communication. “

As Lockheimer points out, there is no technological reason why iOS and Android cannot coexist on a combined platform. He believes Apple’s decision not to support RCS is made so that Apple continues to benefit from the vendor lock-in effect. In 2016, Apple’s Phil Schiller said that “the move from iMessage to Android will hurt us more than it will help us.” Apple’s chief software officer Craig Federighi said that “iMessage on Android would just be used to remove [an] obstacle to iPhone families who give their children Android phones. “

Google’s SVP believes that with iOS support for RCS, teens would be less rushed to buy an iPhone. On a related note, there would also be less pressure on parents of teenagers to buy them an iPhone instead of an Android phone. And since some Android phones are much cheaper than iPhone models, not allowing Apple’s Messages platform to integrate with RCS theoretically costs consumers a lot of money each year.