Google is slamming Apple over the locked-in world of ‘iMessage’. Hiroshi Lockheimer, Senior Vice President of Android at Google, put out a series of tweets calling out Apple over strategy with iMessage. His comments came after a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report highlighting how in the US, teens are firmly in team iMessage. More importantly, those who leave the Apple iMessage ‘blue text’ world for Android are often ostracised and shamed by their peers, according to the report. And Google has decided to take the moment to call out Apple’s ‘walled-garden’ approach to messaging.Further, Google’s own approach towards messaging has been in sharp contrast as it tries to push Rich Communication Services (RCS) with its own Messages app for Android. RCS for those who are unaware is the next generation of messaging standards and protocols, designed to replace SMS and MMS. Here’s a look at what the controversy is about. The report highlights how teens, college students in the US are firmly hooked to their iPhones. Also, anyone who steps outside of the hallowed ‘blue bubbles’ gets ostracised or looked down upon. On Apple’s Messages app, when someone is messaging another iPhone user, all those messages appear in blue. But if someone chats with Android users, which is via regular SMS, then the messages appear in green.
Google takes on Apple over iMessage ‘lock-in’
