has been critical of
Apple
for not adopting
RCS
, the latest cross-platform messaging standard that offers multiple features and security. It even took the #GetTheMessage campaign – aimed at pushing the iPhone maker to open
iMessage
for Android users – to European regulators to designate Apple’s service as a “core platform service”. But Apple scored a win as the European Union (
EU
) announced that its messaging service does not meet the criteria required to be designated as ‘gatekeeper,’ leaving Google with a sour taste.
“Following a thorough assessment of all arguments, taking into account input by relevant stakeholders, and after hearing the Digital Markets Advisory Committee, the Commission found that iMessage [and Microsoft’s Bing, Edge and Advertising] do not qualify as gatekeeper services,” the EU said.
This decision has left Google a bit ‘unhappy’.
“Excluding these popular services from DMA rules means consumers and businesses won’t be offered the breadth of choice that already exists on other, more open platforms,” Google spokesperson Emily Clarke told The Verge.
It must be noted that Apple has already announced that it will open up iPhone messaging with support for RCS standard, allowing for better video calls with Android smartphones. However, it didn’t mean that the company was opening iMessage. As per the company, it will keep its iMessage exclusive for Apple users.
Google’s take on iMessage
Apple’s iMessage is just like RCS but it doesn’t support cross-platform messaging – something that Google wants Apple to do so that Android users can enjoy the same encryption and better-quality photos and videos, which are exclusive to Apple’s ecosystem, during cross-platform messages.
Google has criticised Apple for not opening iMessage to non-iPhone users at various events, including Google I/O as well as past Pixel smartphone launch events. It even started #GetTheMessage campaign to push Apple to support interoperability.
Google argued that iMessage serves as “an important gateway between business users and their customers” and should be regulated as a “core” service under the EU’s new Digital Markets Act (DMA) – set to come into effect on March 7.
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