Not for Nothing, Apple finally made a decision that benefits everyone else

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 (Rich Communication Services) “later next year.” This is simply the most recent shift that Apple has made, whether or not forcefully or in any other case, so as to appease the plenty.Just this yr alone, Apple launched USB-C to the iPhone 15 lineup, due largely to the E.U. signing its new “Common Charger” order. While it was undoubtedly a very long time coming, we nonetheless did not count on to see USB-C arrive till the iPhone 16.More lately, the most recent iOS 17.2 beta updates counsel that Apple may very well be opening the floodgates to permit correct sideloading of apps. But once more, this was finished as extra stress 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 “hold tech giants accountable for the spread of illegal content online and for potentially unfair practices.” Apple, together with different firms, has since been labeled as a “gatekeeper.” This implies that whereas it “will keep all opportunities to innovate and offer new services,” Apple can not “use unfair practices” in an effort to “gain an undue advantage.” At a look, Apple’s announcement concerning RCS help coming to the iPhone may seem to be the corporate simply listening to what the individuals need. But in all chance, 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 all the time been some extent of rivalry, even after the DMA was handed. But it wasn’t till lately that experiences surfaced claiming that Google, together with others, was getting down to get the E.U. concerned. These firms argue that “iMessage should qualify as a ‘core platform service’ within the EU’s Digital Markets Act.”No, Nothing did not pressure Apple to undertake RCS(Image credit score: Nothing)Nothing lately introduced that it has offered not less than 2 million merchandise because the firm’s inception again in 2020. Those are nice numbers, and I’m excited to see what the longer term holds for Nothing and Carl Pei. But there’s a little bit of a priority that the current “Nothing Chat” announcement may make it seem to be Nothing “influenced” Apple to make the change.Originally, this piece was going to be about Nothing’s current announcement that it was going to carry iMessage to the Nothing Phone (2) with Nothing Chat. This was going to be finished in partnership with Sunbird, an software and repair that is not all that completely different from Beeper and others.Even with all the advertising and marketing {dollars} that Google threw into its #GetTheMessage marketing campaign, it wasn’t sufficient to push Apple over the sting. So, whereas I’m positive that Carl Pei and the Nothing crew want to take credit score for Apple’s newest announcement, it could’t. And frankly, it should not need to.As an apart, Google needs to be thrilled over this announcement, contemplating how lengthy it has been pushing for Apple to undertake RCS. Ahead of publishing this text, we reached out for remark and acquired the next:”Everyone deserves to communicate with each other in ways that are modern and secure, no matter what phone they have. That’s why we have worked closely with the mobile industry to accelerate the adoption of RCS, and we’re happy to see Apple take their first step today by coming on board to embrace RCS. We welcome Apple’s participation in our ongoing work with GSMA to evolve RCS and make messaging more equitable and secure, and look forward to working with them to implement this on iOS in a way that works well for everyone.”Security issues have been inevitableThat’s not my Mac (Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)On one hand, I’d wish to tip my cap to Carl Pei and the Nothing crew for being the primary to throw cash on the downside by means of its partnership with Sunbird. But on the opposite, that simply opens one other black gap of issues, a few of which you should not even contemplate.The largest downside with these apps like Sunbird and Beeper, is without doubt one of the similar the reason why Apple stood behind what iMessage provides; safety. I’m not speaking about simply giving up an e mail tackle or having to replace your password. I’m speaking about tying your Apple ID (not less than) and telephone 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 next assertion in regard to privateness and safety: “Once you log in to the Chats app for the first time using either your existing Apple ID or creating a new one, your credentials are tokenized in an encrypted database and become associated with one of Sunbird’s North America or Europe-based Mac Minis (depending on where you’re located), creating an encrypted relay for iMessages sent through the app.”The firm goes on to state that “Sunbird has its ISO27001 certification and is currently working on ISO27701.” ISO 27001 is a set of tips created by the International Organization for Standardization (ISMS,) for the way firms present “manage risk associated with information security threats.” ISO 27701 is basically simply an extension of ISO 27001, however has extra of a deal with “personally identifiable information.”(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)So that is all nice, fantastic, and dandy. It’s every thing that Sunbird ought to be doing on this state of affairs, if no more. But on the finish of the day, if you happen to join Sunbird, Beeper, or Nothing Chat, your info can be on a pc that you don’t have any bodily entry to.To provide you with just a bit instance of why this entire charade might not play out the best way that Nothing hopes, one thing bizarre lately began occurring with my very own Beeper account. I’ve had my info connected to Beeper for a while now, because it simply makes my life simpler contemplating that I’m all the time carrying each an iPhone and no matter foldable telephone has my consideration.Over the previous month or so, I’ve began getting messages from numbers that are not in my contact listing. Some of them are texting me considering that I’m another person, whereas others discover my quantity of their contact listing and do not know the way it received there. I too, have seen telephone numbers in my listing of contacts from locations and areas that I’ve by no means been to.Phone numbers I do not know should not be texting me, asking why my quantity is of their contact listing.Do you need to know when it stopped occurring? When I went into my Apple ID settings and eliminated the Mac that Beeper was utilizing from having the ability to entry my account.Putting on my tin-foil hat for a second, it is already bothersome that my telephone quantity exhibits up for contacts that I do not know. It’s extraordinarily troublesome to know that somebody might achieve entry to accounts that also have 2FA over SMS arrange. If somebody finally ends up getting access to my info, that may very well be it, and issues might snowball quite rapidly.Why RCS on iPhone issues(Image credit score: Android Myrick / Android Central)Apple adopting RCS as a messaging normal is not as lower and dry as you may first assume. This most likely doesn’t suggest that the “blue bubble vs. green bubble” debate will lastly be buried. In the assertion offered to 9to5Mac, Apple says, “This will work alongside iMessage, which will continue to be the best and most secure messaging experience for Apple users.”But I’m not sitting right here and saying that it is a large win for Google or an enormous win for Apple. It’s an enormous win for everybody, so long as we are able to lastly get some feature-parity when messaging between both iOS or Android.While doing analysis for my authentic piece, I got here throughout a couple of quite 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:(Image credit score: Threads)But the fact is that this is not something new. Back in October, rapper Drake launched a brand new album that includes a tune that makes a glancing point out about how “she got a Android, her messages is lime green.” For some, it is only a joke, however for others, being neglected of group chats all due to the telephone that you just use is a actuality.The article that Dan is referencing comes from Will Sattelberg of Android Police, highlighting a current survey the place “87 percent of teenagers surveyed own an iPhone, while 88 percent expect to buy an iPhone as their next device.” As Will so eloquently places it, “these are death spiral numbers for Android.”It’s not due to the apps which might be obtainable, or whether or not you possibly can sideload, or something of the kind. It has every thing to do with iMessage. This is totally 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.Rarely 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 immediately affecting you — is the classism that comes when arguing between utilizing an iPhone and an Android telephone. This, alone, is the rationale why I’m completely satisfied that Apple is lastly reducing its walled backyard a bit extra, even when it is attempting to keep away from one other battle with the E.U.