In November, Apple stunned us all when it introduced that RCS help would come to the iPhone someday this 12 months. When you’re something like me, you’ve in all probability spent means an excessive amount of time since then occupied with why Apple reversed course.
Writing at Daring Fireball, John Gruber has a proof: China.
“I can’t say for sure, alas, however after spending the previous couple of months periodically poking across the bushes inhabited by little birdies, I do have excellent news for followers of coercive authorities regulation,” Gruber says. “Apple’s hand was successfully pressured. However by China, not the EU.”
Gruber factors to a brand new legislation within the works in China that can require that 5G units help RCS as a way to obtain certification within the nation.
Chinese language carriers have been proponents of RCS for years, and final 12 months, the Chinese language authorities started the method of codifying into legislation that to realize certification, new 5G units can be required to help RCS. (Right here’s a very good English translation on Reddit of the components related to Apple.) Shockingly, the Chinese language authorities seemingly isn’t involved that the RCS customary has no provisions for encryption. The little birdies I’ve spoken to all stated the identical factor: iOS help for RCS is all about China.
Apple would like merely to proceed ignoring RCS, on the grounds that they wish to help neither any new non-E2EE protocols, nor any new carrier-controlled protocols (whether or not encrypted or not). However when the CCP says gadget makers should soar to promote their merchandise in China, Apple asks “How excessive?”
One narrative within the months since Apple’s RCS announcement in November has been that the transfer was pushed by the Digital Markets Act within the European Union. The DMA, nevertheless, makes no point out of RCS particularly – and now have official affirmation that iMessage just isn’t large enough within the EU to fall below the purview of the DMA.
I’ll refer you to Daring Fireball for Gruber’s full piece on Apple, RCS, China, and the European Union. There’s no higher strategy to spend a Friday evening, I’m instructed. Our associates over at 9to5Google even have their spin on the information.
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