Google and major mobile carriers want Europe to regulate Apple's iMessage platform

Salamendacious@lemmy.world to Technology@lemmy.world – 461 points –
Google and major mobile carriers want Europe to regulate Apple's iMessage platform
engadget.com

The long fight to make Apple's iMessage compatible with all devices has raged with little to show for it. But Google (de facto leader of the charge) and other mobile operators are now leveraging the European Union's Digital Market Act (DMA), according to the Financial Times. The law, which goes into effect in 2024, requires that "gatekeepers" not favor their own systems or limit third parties from interoperating within them. Gatekeepers are any company that meets specific financial and usage qualifications, including Google's parent company Alphabet, Apple, Samsung and others.

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Nobody in EU uses SMS, it stopped being a thing as soon as everyone had phones with internet and you could use better chat apps. So we don't give a crap about iMessage being open or not.

I only just found out this year that text messages from IPhone or Android are a different colour in the US, and people would judge you on that.

Fuckin hell, that's elementary-school-level behaviour šŸ˜‚

I use SMS a lot, in the EU. So does, most of my family, and friends. So idk where you get this from? GF and her friends and family too.

My understanding is that while the US and some others quickly moved to unlimited texting plans, many European countries continued to charge per text so apps like WhatsApp become the defacto replacement

In France we got unlimited texts at about the same time as unlimited data.

I don't think a plan with unlimited data and limited texts ever existed.

In Sweden I can't remember the last time I saw a plan that didn't include unlimited sms and calls. Only thing marketed is data. However if you really search for them I guess it's still possible to buy something else somewhere.

Why?

Because he's wrong, most people use text in Europe. Even if it's addition to an app like WhatsApp.

Only if you count receiving verification codes as "Using SMS". Even my elderly parents only use messaging apps.

I don't have anyone I contact through SMS.

There are a ton of different page patterns so I don't think "Everyone" or "No one" is using SMS.

But, in my experience, they are used very very little by most people.

You probably use SMS mostly for getting codes

If you're all on Android, it's very likely you're using RCS not SMS

Iā€™m in the EU, I still use a lot the sms

Interesting! Why?

What else is there to use? SMS is the only cross platform protocol that works. MMS is horrible and Apple refuses ro support RCS. Of course SMS apps auto upgrades to RCS if both parties supports it which is in practice only between Androids.

Signal, Telegram, WhatsApp, ICQ, FB messenger, Matrix, just to name a few!

None of those work without both people having the app and so provide a much worse experience over SMS, just why?

No, even if people didn't use SMS, Apple market share is actually growing and it could lead to iMessage becoming dominant like it is in the US. Even if it won't benefit us much, I'm sure Americans would appreciate the EU caring about it because the US government could never do it.

People with iPhones don't use iMessage either. They use WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal etc.

WhatsApp is not a thing at all in Poland mate. It's either SMS/RCS or fucking Messenger which has to be the worst one šŸ˜­

Oh man that sucks! I already hate that I have to use WhatsApp with people who don't have Telegram, I'd be so angry if I had to use Messenger and even more angry if I had to SMS