Apple devotees and iPhone users probably didn’t even know it, but they’ve been using an antiquated messaging system for years.
One that paled to Google’s Android in the eyes of techsters, one requested by mobile carriers, and one that caused many Android users to throw up their hands in frustration when they would try to send an Apple user things like in-call multimedia.
Finally, after years of prodding and being made fun of by Android in the #GettheMessage video below, Apple has made a decision to cross the great divide in text messaging and adopt Google’s RCS – “Rich Communication Services'” communication protocol. Beginning in 2024, that will give iPhone users the same messaging features that their Android friends enjoy.
Everything this means for Apple users
One person who’s licking their lips in anticipation of Apple’s RCS adoption is Inderpal Singh Mumick, CEO of Dotgo, the world’s largest RCS business messaging hub. According to Mumick, Apple's support for RCS will accelerate consumer, brand, and carrier adoption of the system, taking it close to 3 billion unique users by 2024.
“All doubts about RCS are behind us. Sayonara, SMS,” Mumick said.
ConsumerAffairs asked Mumick to lay out for all the iPhone users in our readership what things they can expect to see and stand to gain. He offered these pluses and his comments on their added value:
Improved Android-iOS Messaging: “RCS will enhance messaging between iOS and Android devices with features like read receipts, typing indicators, high-quality media sharing, and group functionalities,” Mumick said.
Reduction of the Blue-Green Bubble Divide: “The richer messaging experience will decrease the peer pressure among school kids to use iPhones, tackling the blue bubble-green bubble divide.”
Enhanced Security and Privacy: “RCS will bring secure encrypted messaging between iOS and Android. The current messaging between Android devices and Apple devices is unencrypted. However, while initial cross-platform RCS messages might not be encrypted, Apple has said it will work with the GSM Association [a non-profit industry organization that represents the interests of mobile network operators] to develop an encryption standard for cross-platform RCS messages.”
Standardization of Messaging Protocols: “This move signifies a step toward a unified messaging standard, ensuring better interoperability and a consistent experience across devices.”
Improved Business Communication: “RCS's adoption on Apple devices opens up possibilities for business messaging with features like branding, verification, encryption, two-way chat, and recognizable sender IDs for Apple users,” he concluded.
Consumers will also get a better e-commerce shopping experience
RCS messaging offers a significant advantage for interactive two-way communication between consumers and sellers. It gives businesses the power to engage with customers in real time, promptly addressing inquiries and feedback. And, if businesses play their cards right, that immediacy can foster trust and loyalty from the consumer.
The big “if” is how companies integrate chatbots, the automated customer service feature that many businesses are incorporating, but few consumers have yet to take a shine to.
Still, NativeMsg’s Brian Stafford thinks that the pluses of speed, personalization, and convenience outweigh the minuses. Especially convenience.
“Convenience is a major benefit of RCS Messaging because it allows customers to interact with businesses in a natural and seamless way. With RCS Messaging, customers can easily access information, make purchases, and receive support through messaging platforms that they already use on a daily basis,” Stafford wrote.
He says that RCS will eliminate the necessity for customers to scroll through a website or call a customer service hotline, which should – in theory – save them time and effort.
“Additionally, RCS Messaging allows for personalized interactions, as businesses can use the customer’s past interactions and preferences to provide a more tailored experience. Overall, RCS Messaging provides a convenient and efficient way for customers to interact with businesses, improving the overall customer experience.”
Photo Credit: Consumer Affairs News Department Images
Posted: 2023-11-28 12:53:31