Apple users deserve iMessage on Android and Windows
iMessage, Apple’s proprietary and default messaging client on iOS devices, offers a fun and secure way for iOS users to message each other. Apple for years has only made this available on iOS and later macOS devices. Many interesting backs and forth emails came to light during the discovery process during the Epic games lawsuit.
One that caught my eye was the back and forth between some of their senior leadership discussing whether or not bringing iMessage to Android was good for Apple’s business or not. They ultimately decided that this would be bad for their business model as it might encourage people, especially parents, to buy their children inexpensive Android devices.
Even then, the thinking was nearsighted because services like Whatsapp, Skype, oh and regular SMS existed back then, but appears even more so now. I use Microsoft Teams to collaborate with my employees, clients, and partners in my professional world. I’m part of a screenwriters, amateur cinematographers, and film enthusiasts group where we communicate using Slack. Additionally, I am heavily involved in my daughter’s soccer coaching and figure skating life, where we communicate and coordinate using Whatsapp groups. Additionally, I’ve asked all my friends and family to use Telegram as it’s easy to use and offers a much better experience than SMS.
Notice iMessage is not mentioned anywhere above? Many, if not most of these groups, are iPhone owners, and even they know SMS is a terrible experience. Still, they also know that iMessage isn’t available everywhere, so it can’t ever be considered when collaborating with others. This has been a problem for such a long time that iOS users are not even surprised when someone suggests a messaging service that’s not iMessage.
No consideration for iOS owners
At no point in any of these emails did Apple seemed concerned about iOS users. iMessage offers the ability to have individual read receipts, sharing music, stickers, liking messages, effects, sending money, etc. You lose all these features if you message people who don’t use or don’t have access to iMessage. If you’re an Android or any other mobile phone user, SMS looks the same regardless of the sender’s application. SMS is terrible; everyone knows it, which is why we use these alternative services. These alternative services exist on all platforms, making them the only viable option. iOS users are deprived of iMessage of ever being considered because of this.
I’m not sure how things are done in Cupertino, but here on earth, Apple users, Android Users, Windows users all coexist and work together. We communicate via digital means. We work on all sorts of projects; we’re not in the business to force any of our friends or colleagues to buy some tech piece that benefits a single party.
Light at the end of the tunnel
There are signs that Cupertino giant may not be so obtuse. They recently announced Facetime on Android and Windows. Although this is certainly not the case, Apple simply turned Facetime into a Zoom knock-off by allowing Facetime users to send meeting links that anyone can click. If anything, this signifies that Apple is at least aware that Zoom is a thing and that all their customers are using it and, in many cases, replaced Facetime altogether.
Apple needs to get over its insecurity and stop attempting to prevent people from escaping its walled garden. They should start showing to their customers and all users that they build good software and services available to anyone who wants to use them. Microsoft switched to this model when Satya Nadella took over and has served them very well as they dominate the business and productivity space. Apple could easily dominate the consumer space if they wanted to a who knows, they might even pick up a convert or two along the way.
