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Why Google just put Apple on blast over its messaging: 'It's time for Apple to fix texting.'

iPhone owners have long blamed Android owners for difficulties when cross-device messaging. But yesterday, Google took the debate to the next level, placing the blame squarely on Apple.


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Tim Cook Sundar Pichai
Tim Cook Sundar Pichai

Sundar Pichai (left) and Tim Cook.Getty/Insider Composite

1. Google just put Apple on blast. On its website, Google called out what it says is Apple's failure to improve the user experience between iPhone and Android users, and issued a clear call to action: "It's time for Apple to fix texting."

  • Some iPhone users lament the green message bubbles, poor-quality compressed videos, and the lack of read receipts that come with cross-device messaging.

  • For this, Google blames Apple, which converts texts sent between iPhones and Androids into SMS and MMS, decades-old methods of sending text-only messages from device to device.

  • Google argues Apple should instead use Rich Communication Services, which it says is the "modern industry standard" meant to improve how people can send texts and calls, but also media like emojis, videos, and photos.

  • "These problems exist because Apple refuses to adopt modern texting standards when people with iPhones and Android phones text each other," reads the Android website.

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