RCS Archives - Desk Chair Analysts

As I have mentioned time and time again, I’m not sure what the obsession with blue bubbles are. As I have experienced lately in other circles, Americans seem to be very, very stubborn. I’d be lying if I wasn’t either. Soggy cereal is better than crunchy. Mac and cheese is trash. But having a blue bubble just seems asinine. However, Beeper wants to make it possible for Android users to have a blue bubble.

Past with Beeper

I had been using Beeper on and off for a couple of years. I wasn’t really interested in the blue bubble aspect of it as much as I just wanted to send texts from my Windows PC like I can from my Macs. Beeper allowed me to do that.

Unfortunately, I didn’t stick with it. That was because of a similar issue that spelt doom for Sunbird and Nothing Chats. In order to achieve it, you would need to use your Apple ID that was tied to a Mac Mini somewhere. I never really knew where (or actually I would have if I paid attention to the 2FA prompts). Then that Mac was associated with my device list on my Apple ID and it felt weird. That Mac Mini wasn’t mine. So, I got rid of it. Figured it wasn’t really worth it.

Beeper Mini

Beeper Mini is different. According to Beeper, the app is using something they built from the ground up. It has claimed it has reversed-engineered how Apple uses iMessages and is sending messages directly to Apple. You don’t have to sign into Apple to use it. It somehow cloaks your message as an iMessage and you get a blue bubble. But, you can sign in to get syncing.

Optionally, you may also sign in to your Apple ID to enable sending/receiving from your email address. This will also enable you to send and receive messages from other Apple devices like iPad or Macs. The Apple ID login sends your username, password and a 2-factor code using encrypted HTTPS requests directly to Apple servers.”
Beeper spokesperson

RCS coming to iPhones next year. Americans who are so used to just using the default app on their phones instead of more superior and secure apps really have no need for blue bubbles. But I guess I fighting a losing battle. Maybe this is another thing I’m stubborn about.

Source: 9to5Google

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Apple’s news of supporting RCS is on this site “so I don’t get fined”

MajorLinux — Sat, 18 Nov 2023 20:05:41 +0000

If you have consumed any of my TikTok content ever, you would know I like to make fun of Apple and Android fanboys alike. As an avid user of multiple platforms from Android to iOS, mac OS to Linux to Windows, Xbox and PlayStation, I see what all platforms offer me. For the past 15 years, I’ve made interoperability work for me.

I say this because I have found ways around the blue/green bubble debate. I mean, majority of the world has at this point. There are infinitely better platforms than SMS/MMS. There are better platforms than RCS. And, yes, there are better platforms than iMessage.

So, between seeing what Nothing was doing this week, what Beeper has been doing for a while, and this new thing, it baffles me.

For years, people in the US, specifically, have been arguing over an arbitrary status symbol that is green bubbles vs blue bubbles. This is mainly stemming from the features iPhone users have grown accustomed to in iMessage that aren’t translated well over SMS and MMS. This became an increasing pain when RCS was adopted on Android. RCS had similar features to iMessage and was widely available. But Apple never caved.

Until now. With the EU breathing down Apple’s neck, Apple’s hand was forced in yet another battle. First, it was the USB-C port. Now, it’s RCS. Now, it’s not to say that iMessage is going away. This just means the “green bubbles” can do more.

This, however, isn’t the best solution. While SMS/MMS was never encrypted, RCS really isn’t all that safe either. It doesn’t have the same levels of encryption that iMessages or any other texting app can provide.

At the end of the day, why don’t people just move to Whatsapp? Ever thought of Telegram? Maybe give Signal a try? There are even some dope open source routes you can go. But this color bubble war just needs to go away.

Source: 9to5Mac

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