Interoperability Mandate for Large-Sized Messaging Apps
The European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulation, set to come into effect in 2024, will have significant implications for tech giants. One of the key provisions of the DMA is that large-sized messaging apps must be interoperable with other services. However, according to a recent report by Bloomberg, Apple’s iMessage might not have to comply with this mandate.
Exemption for iMessage
According to people familiar with the matter, the EU has tentatively deduced that iMessage is not popular enough among business users. This exemption would mean that iMessage will not be required to work seamlessly with other services like Messenger or WhatsApp. The final decision on whether iMessage must comply with the interoperability mandate remains uncertain.
Background: DMA and its Implications
In September, the EU listed 22 services that fall under the DMA from six companies, including Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, ByteDance, Meta, and Microsoft. However, at the time of the announcement, Apple’s iMessage was not included in the list. The DMA will affect various aspects of these companies’ operations, including their messaging apps.
Rich Messaging Service (RCS): A New Era for Android Users?
Apple has recently announced that it will adopt RCS next year, an update to the SMS/MMS protocol. This move will allow Android users to send high-resolution photos and videos, but unfortunately, their messages will still be displayed in green bubbles, perpetuating the ongoing "green bubble vs blue bubble" debate.
Historical Reluctance: Apple’s Stance on RCS
Apple has been historically reluctant to adopt RCS. In a previous conference, when asked about not being able to send high-resolution videos to non-iMessage users, Tim Cook responded by suggesting that the user should simply "buy their mom an iPhone." This stance highlights Apple’s preference for maintaining its exclusive messaging ecosystem.
Workarounds: Bringing iMessage to Android
Despite Apple’s reluctance, several startups are actively working on solutions to bring iMessage to Android. Beeper has recently announced a new app called Beeper Mini that claims to have reverse-engineered the iMessage protocol. Automattic-owned Texts.com also offers limited iMessage implementation on Mac.
Meta’s Efforts: Preparing WhatsApp for Interoperability
In a separate development, Meta is preparing WhatsApp to be interoperable with other services. This effort was discovered in the app code by WABetaInfo. The company is taking steps to ensure that WhatsApp can seamlessly communicate with other messaging apps, adhering to the DMA’s interoperability mandate.
Conclusion
The European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulation will have far-reaching implications for tech giants, including Apple and Meta. While Apple’s iMessage might be exempt from the interoperability mandate due to its limited popularity among business users, the final decision remains uncertain. The adoption of RCS by Apple is a significant development that may offer some benefits to Android users but does not necessarily address the issue of messaging app interoperability.
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