I asked if people chose iPhone for the blue bubbles elsewhere a couple days ago, and while there was some good discourse on that post, the blue bubbles definitely also came up as a reason.
In my experience, when people find out my texts are green, they oftentimes would rather switch to a different platform altogether like Instagram or just not text at all.
Is this actually a deal-breaker in friendships out there?
iPhone user here. Not a dealbreaker, but I can explain why some people may want to switch platforms. Blue bubble iMessages go out over the Internet–wifi, cell data, whatever. Green bubbles need cell signal and go over the cell network as an SMS, Blue bubbles can go out over cell network (via data), but they also can go out via wifi.
For me this means green bubbles cause a couple issues:
Now not a dealbreaker. I just move those conversations to Whatapp, Messenger, Line, KakaoTalk, whatever. It’s not a big deal. And definitely not a dealbreaker. If it’s a dealbreaker for someone that should be a red flag.
I can still be friends with someone even if they did choose the wrong phone ;) /s
I’m an android user that’s been messaging and calling over the internet using the default messaging and calling apps for years. What you’re describing isn’t an android limitation, it’s a vendor comparability and standards issue. And I’ve had just as many problems with iphone users breaking my group texts among android using groups. The fact is that sms on iPhone is broken by design, but because you’re all broken in the same way you won’t see it.
The above comment is a perfect example of the biggest issue: iPhone users don’t understand what’s happening and blame Android for it.
This is exactly why I’ll never buy from Apple, the first problem in addition to the horrible contrast is intentionally caused by them so you will think other services are inferior. Either that or it’s your cell provider, I’ve been able to text and call over Wi-Fi for years.
Google FI also works with networks from all over the world for no extra cost so that’s really nice for international travel.
What? I only said SMS is inferior to everything. Whether it’s googles latest chat, WhatsApp or iMessage I don’t care. Just no SMS.
The problem is that SMS and RCS are the only standardized ones, with RCS having many of the features that services like iMessage and WhatsApp offer. Once again it’s Apple that stands in the way because they like their users thinking everything non-Apple is inferior, and they refuse to support RCS.
I think I’m miss stating my key point.
When I swap a SIM card out for one in the country I am in, how am I going to receive all my SMS and RCS messages tied to the phone number? Nobody uses SMS/RCS outside of North America. Making people in other countries pay per message to send me a text or photo is weird. And yes a lot of plans internationally still charge per message, which is why most messaging is on WhatsApp in Europe, South America, and Aftrica. Line in Asia. Kakao Talk in Korea, WeChat in China. And none of this has to do with iPhone not using RCS–which sure, they should adopt–but it’s because people don’t want their phone carrier involved in their messaging. So again, even if Apple implemented RCS–and they should–I don’t think we are seeing any kind switch back to using phone carriers to deliver messages outside of North America.
When I use iMessage I use my email address as the source/destination, not phone number. And in that sense, it is no different to me than WhatsApp, Line, KakaoTalk or WeChat. And I use all of those too depending on what country my recipient is in. Whether SMS/RCS I don’t want the message tied to a phone number that might be temporary. So again, when I ask my android friends to move to WhatsApp or another app it is not because iMessage is better. It’s that SMS and even RCS are worse than everything.
Fair enough, I see your point. I don’t take the SIM card out when traveling though, I use dual SIM.
I just think having a standardized messaging service is important, something that doesn’t need an app download or login. From what I can find RCS is free to use over Wi-Fi regardless of the country, and sending over data should also barely cost anything, it wouldn’t be a ‘per message’ charge like SMS. And I can’t help but wonder how much its adoption is affected by one of the world’s most influential corporations deciding to not support it. I guess that’s what’s so frustrating to me.