- Google criticized Apple over how it converts text and media from Android users to iPhones.
- Google is asking Apple to adopt RCS, a new standard for converting media between devices.
- Users have long lamented the green bubbles and blurry videos that come with text messages between iPhones and Androids.
Loading Loading something.
On Tuesday, Google took a cheeky swipe at Apple on its website for what it says is Apple’s failure to improve the user experience among iPhone and Android users.
Some users have long lamented the green message bubbles that come with cross-device messaging, such as low-quality compressed videos, lack of read receipts, and other headaches.
Google blames Apple, as the company converts texts sent between iPhones and Androids into what’s called SMS and MMS, both decades-old methods of sending text-only messages from one device to another.
Instead, Google argues that Apple should use something called Rich Communication Services, or RSC, which it says is the “modern industry standard” aimed at improving the way people can text and call, but also media such as emojis, videos and photos.
“These problems exist because Apple refuses to adopt modern text messaging standards when people with iPhones and Android phones send text messages to each other,” the Android website says.
The page asks visitors to share the campaign on social media and “help @Apple #getthemessage.”
“Texting between iPhone and Android is broken. It’s time for Apple to fix the green and blue bubbles, and texting for everyone,” the social text reads.
Apple did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.
This is just the latest instance in which Google has asked Apple to adopt RCS. In June, Google jumped at the chance to bring it up when rapper Drake released his song “Texts Go Green” about miscommunication with a partner.
Google’s social team released an “unofficial lyric explainer video” praising the song and interpreting the lyrics as complaints against the iPhone for turning Android users’ texts green.
— Android (@Android) June 18, 2022
“If only some super talented engineering team at Apple would fix this,” says Google’s June video.