In November, Apple stunned us all when it introduced that RCS help would come to the iPhone someday this 12 months. In case you’re something like me, you’ve most likely spent approach an excessive amount of time since then enthusiastic about why Apple reversed course.
Writing at Daring Fireball, John Gruber has an evidence: China.
“I can’t say for sure, alas, however after spending the previous few 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 will probably be required to help RCS. (Right here’s English translation on Reddit of the elements related to Apple.) Shockingly, the Chinese language authorities seemingly isn’t involved that the RCS normal has no provisions for encryption. The little birdies I’ve spoken to all mentioned the identical factor: iOS help for RCS is all about China.
Apple would like merely to proceed ignoring RCS, on the grounds that they need 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 machine 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 sufficiently big within the EU to fall beneath 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 option to spend a Friday evening, I’m advised. Our mates over at 9to5Google even have their spin on the information.
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