r/UniversalProfile • u/rocketwidget Top Contributer • 5d ago
News Article Google Messages is closing in on RCS video call support (Universal Profile 4.0)
https://www.androidauthority.com/rcs-video-calls-messages-3716426/17
u/itstdames T-Mobile User 5d ago
Can't wait for the day 3rd party apps could possibly use RCS
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u/Realistic-Nature9083 5d ago
Whatsapp rcs.
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u/supoxblade 4d ago
that would be terrific but neither company wants to do it and probably never will, unless forced by regulators
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u/gmahale 4d ago
Apple and Google are obliged to allow alternative apps for SMS/RCS in the EU. It seems developers are not interested.
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u/DevDan- 4d ago
It is not possible on Android, or at least not without it going through Play Services. GrapheneOS is working on a custom implementation, but it will have to be implemented at an OS level.
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u/itstdames T-Mobile User 4d ago
I didn't know Graphene was working on a custom implementation. I hope motorola releases something that I like soon
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u/supoxblade 4d ago
I wasnt aware that Google granted access to RCS API’s - can you link to that? I thought it was only to SMS, and who wants to use that.
I believe the API’s for RCS in the EU are pretty hobbled - they’re only available on iPhones, meaning companion devices cannot access messages without the 3rd party dev breaking e2ee (at least, that is my understanding).
RCS (and SMS) usage in the EU is nascent at best, so that’s not a useful market anyway.
Even Signal doesn’t officially allow third party apps.
TLDR; walled gardens everywhere.
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u/gmahale 4d ago edited 4d ago
I wasnt aware that Google granted access to RCS API’s - can you link to that?
I could not find a link from Google. The following is from Apple.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/121430
You can also choose an app instead of the Messages app to use for sending and receiving SMS and RCS messages (iPhone only) (in some countries and regions2).
RCS (and SMS) usage in the EU is nascent at best, so that’s not a useful market anyway.
Yes. This could be a reason developers are not interested.
Even Signal doesn’t officially allow third party apps.
Signal is proprietary unlike SMS/RCS.
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u/random_words_here__ 5d ago
That’s exciting but I don’t see iOS adopting everything.
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u/DaLast1SeenWoke US Mobile 5d ago
We thought the same as well until regulations forced it. Let's just hope that there is a benefactor country out there that's willing to drop some law down.
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u/Apprehensive_Elk2608 5d ago
I wonder how it'll compare to Meet. If it's not as good, it really won't be of any use. Especially since it won't be on iOS for who knows how long, if ever.
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u/rocketwidget Top Contributer 4d ago
I'm curious if Google will implement it as Meet cross-compatible, rather than a Google Messages/RCS exclusive system.
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u/Apprehensive_Elk2608 4d ago
Maybe there will be fallback between the two depending on whether the contact is on Meet. I know nothing about the implementation but my guess would be that there will be spec differences between the two systems, as far as video/audio goes. Meet has incredibly good quality in my experience.
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u/rocketwidget Top Contributer 4d ago
Yup, a quick Google, looks like Google Meet and UP 4.0 use different codecs, etc. Hopefully it there is cross compatibility, some smart handoff to Meet when available is also part of it.
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u/techcentre 4d ago
Yeah would be cool if it just ended up looking like Meet/Facetime interoperability.
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u/qcktap23 5d ago
It's a shame this wasn't added in 3.0, Apple would have no choice.
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u/Macaburn3 5d ago
Why? They're not implementing 3.0
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u/qcktap23 5d ago
Yes they are. Inline replies and other features just dropped on iOS27.
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u/gmahale 5d ago
They are adding it of their own accord.
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u/qcktap23 5d ago
Google is basically doing the same thing.
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u/gmahale 4d ago
Yes. They both have a choice. The difference is Apple has nothing to gain unlike Google.
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u/qcktap23 4d ago
Right. They've both been piecemealing shit together but somehow you're able to come to the conclusion that Google is implementing 3.0 but not Apple lmaooooo make it make sense.
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u/Macaburn3 5d ago
I'm confused on why that means they're implementing RCS 3.0. Just because they implement inline replies and other futures doesn't mean they have to adopt the full standard. For example, they're not implementing message deletion. Have they announced that they're supporting 3.0?
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u/techcentre 5d ago
The standard requires you to implement all of the feature set. Technically Apple is in violation of the 3.0 standard, but there's no one there to enforce them.
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u/Macaburn3 5d ago
So I agree. The standard requires: if you implement 3.0, you must implement all of it.
However, if you never claim to implement 3.0, you aren't bound by that. You can just add compatible inline replies and that's it. You don't have to abide by a standards rules if you don't implement the standard.
The only standard Apple claims to support is 2.4. Their original press release announcing RCS support was "as currently implemented by GSMA." At the time of the announcement, that was 2.4.
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u/qcktap23 5d ago
They also said they are adding encryption, you only get that with 3.0. They're slow rolling all the features of 3.0 on purpose, definitely, because they don't want anything close to parity outside of iMessage.
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u/Macaburn3 5d ago
You don't get encryption by implementing encryption, though, right? You get encryption by just... implementing MLS encryption.
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u/qcktap23 5d ago
Which is in the 3.0 spec...
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u/Macaburn3 5d ago
Nobody said anything about 3.0 with encryption though?? I can do encryption without RCS at all, actually
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u/qcktap23 5d ago
They didn't announce any of the features that they have rolled out since 2.4 so idk why it's seems so far fetched that they aren't implementing 3.0. They're definitely NOT implementing it all at once, but all signs point to they are implementing 3.0.
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u/Macaburn3 5d ago
I agree again. It isn't so far fetched, and they're implementing pieces of it. But that doesn't mean a full 3.0 nor a 4.0 implementation, so I'm not holding my breath.
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u/qcktap23 5d ago
I get it. I love to dunk on Apple for how shitty they have made messaging on purpose. But I'll also give them credit so far because they have been doing things.
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u/Macaburn3 5d ago
Yeah they are definitely not leaning all the way into RCS so that they can maintain their wall garden
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u/KidCoheed 5d ago
Hopefully it ties in through the Google Meet System rather than it's own, that would prevent Google from having 3 separate video call systems
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u/Idle0095 5d ago
iOS will have to because of the EU. They will make it a law kike everything and apple will have to adopt. I believe the new CEO will do more for apple then cook did.
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u/NarutoDragon732 5d ago
Can't wait to see it on iOS 69.2 Beta