Blrd

[Jay]

Any time you enter a text messaging thread on iPhone, those blue and green message bubbles make clear who else is on iPhone versus Android.

Google claims that distinction leads to "peer pressure and bullying" that has ultimately given Apple's iMessage a clear edge.

Hiroshi Lockheimer, senior vice president of Google products including Android, wrote on Twitter that Apple's efforts to lock in users to iMessage "is a documented strategy."

Lockheimer's tweet was in response to a Wall Street Journal article on how teens stick with iPhone over Android because*the green text bubble signaling they use an Android device.

"Using peer pressure and bullying as a way to sell products is disingenuous for a company that has humanity and equity as a core part of its marketing," wrote Lockheimer. "The standards exist today to fix this."


View: https://twitter.com/lockheimer/status/1479865157753147395?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1479865157753147395%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fboxden.com%2Fshowthread.php%3Ft%3D3090569



The official Twitter account for Android shared Lockheimer's tweet, along with its own message that Apple shouldn't benefit from bullying.

"Texting should bring us together, and the solution exists," read the statement. "Let’s fix this as one industry."


View: https://twitter.com/Android/status/1479875457667448837?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1479875457667448837%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fboxden.com%2Fshowthread.php%3Ft%3D3090569


Apple could not be immediately reached for comment on the remarks. A support page on Apple's website says the green text bubbles come from users who send Short Message Service (SMS) messages. Apple's iMessage is only available for its products including iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.*

Several stories have documented for years iPhone users' preference for the blue text bubble over green, shutting out some Android owners from text threads.*

Meanwhile, Google has been pushing its own Rich Communication System (RCS) texting platform to better compete with iMessage.

 

[Rollie Forbes]

iMessage 🤢
Imagine me wanting to share my location, or sending you a read receipt.


That being said, bullying someone over the type of messaging service that they use is weird.

 

[The Honorable]

iMessage 🤢
Imagine me wanting to share my location, or sending you a read receipt.
View attachment 1470

That being said, bullying someone over the type of messaging service that they use is weird.

Or being able to transmit a video by text and not have it turn into pixelated junk like on Android. Google changes SMS apps every 6 months.

 

[Rollie Forbes]

Or being able to transmit a video by text and not have it turn into pixelated junk like on Android. Google changes SMS apps every 6 months.

I've never seen pixelated junk. I can send and receive video just fine, and I've never had to change my messging app.

 

[sourgrapes]

What? I don't even know how to comprehend this. I use Signal and can use whatever color I want for whoever I want. I have everyone color-coded even so I don't accidentally send the wrong person a message LOL

 

[James]

Now a days other messaging apps are dominating that are replacing native application like iMessage or Message from Android like What's app, Facebook messenger and Signal which gives you more customization and features.

 

[Devin]

I feel as if this is over-exaggerated. iPhone offers exclusive features between iPhone users, if another user doesn't have an iPhone and an iPhone user attempts to interact with them using an iPhone exclusive feature then they would never understand why it isn't working. Normally text messages appear green, but Apple iMessage is sent via WiFi or an internet connection and appears to be sent as "iMessage" instead of "Text Message." I don't think Apple is bullying anyone at all, they're just setting their products aside from the other ones.