There’s a new Google Messages update page that takes up your phone’s entire display every time you open the app.
Granted, keeping your apps up to date is important, and this new system will help get that across to users. But we’re not sure annoying the hell out of the user about it is the best strategy.
If only we could get RCS with any app other than Google’s. I wonder how long they can gatekeep those APIs.
As long as they can get away with it
Is this something akin to what Apple does by adding application layer functionality to SMS messaging? And, please correct me if I’m wrong about how the apple stuff works.
No, iMessage is a completely separate protocol and has nothing to do with SMS. It uses WiFi/Cellular data, unlike SMS. It doesn’t involve your mobile carrier at all, it all goes through Apple’s servers. They just put iMessage (which is basically like WhatsApp or Signal) and SMS into the same app and made everything confusing and annoying to use.