Google Executive Wants to Help Apple Make Texts Between Android and iPhone Users More Secure - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Google Executive Wants to Help Apple Make Texts Between Android and iPhone Users More Secure

A Google executive is extending an open hand to help Apple adopt RCS, a new communication protocol called Rich Communication Services to iPhone and iPad, that would replace standard SMS and offer improved cross-platform messaging capabilities.

General Apps Messages
In a tweet, Hiroshi Lockheimer, Google's senior vice president of Android, said that "group chats don't need to break this way," referring to a sub-tweet about the inconvenience Android and iPhone users have in communicating via messages. Alluding to the ‌RCS‌ protocol, Lockheimer goes on to state there is a "Really Clear Solution" and that he is offering an "open invitation to the folks who can make this right," with the "folks" in question being a reference to Apple.

Google has been rolling out ‌RCS‌ for the past several years, and in July, all three major carriers in the U.S. pledged to adopt RCS, which, compared to SMS, offers support for higher quality photos and videos, audio messages, improved security, and better group chats.

With ‌RCS‌, Android to Android messaging communication will become fully end-to-end encrypted. In contrast, Android to iPhone communication often referred to as the "green bubble," will be less secure due to Apple's unwillingness to adopt ‌RCS‌.

Popular Stories

google photos wardrobe

Google Photos Wardrobe Feature Comes to iOS

Thursday September 24, 2026 1:33 pm PDT by
Google today said its digital wardrobe option is available in the Google Photos iOS app in the U.S., India, and Brazil. Google first announced the feature back in April, but it was limited to Android users until now. The wardrobe option uses AI to pull images of clothing from the Google Photos library, organizing them into a digital closet. Users can put items together to create outfits ...
google synthid

Google's SynthID AI Detector is Now Available to Everyone

Wednesday October 7, 2026 4:42 pm PDT by
Google today said it is making its SynthID Detector available to everyone for identifying content created using AI. SynthID Detector first rolled out to members of the media last year, and it is now available worldwide in English. SynthID Detector is a website that lets users upload a photo, video, or audio file to determine whether it has a SynthID watermark that identifies it as...
Apple TV 4K HomeView HomePod Mini tweaked

New Apple TV 4K, HomeView, and HomePod Mini: 16 Details Just Leaked

Sunday October 11, 2026 12:56 pm PDT by
Just two days before Apple's "Welcome home" experience in New York, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has leaked several details about the new products set to be unveiled, including an all-new smart home hub, a HomePod mini 2, and a new Apple TV 4K. Here is an all-in-one summary of the details shared by Gurman:Apple's home hub with a touch-enabled display will be named HomeView, seemingly confirming a ...

Top Rated Comments

66 months ago
Use Signal
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SpringKid Avatar
66 months ago

In Europe, WhatsApp is standard. It's not ideal (Facebook owned), but at least its available on every phone.
As a fellow European, I'm not entirely sure I believe this, unless you have some statistics to back it up with?

I've never used WhatsApp, by the way.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
66 months ago

Perhaps Apple could develop RCS support using some of the $11 Billion Google pays privacy-minded Apple every year to put its corporate fingers in its ears and pretend Google isn't monetizing Apple's users search queries.
They may pay Apple to be default but I am sure there are Apple users like me who quickly change that to something like Duck Duck Go.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
66 months ago
Perhaps Apple could develop RCS support using some of the $11 Billion Google pays privacy-minded Apple every year to look the other way and pretend Google isn't monetizing Apple users' privacy.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
66 months ago
Americans seem to use "blue chat bubbles" as some sort of class differentiator and a bragging right, so Apple will hold onto that selling point for the foreseeable future.

In Europe, WhatsApp is standard. It's not ideal (Facebook owned), but at least its available on every phone.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
heystu Avatar
66 months ago
Apple unwilling to adopt RCS and won't let anyone else play with iMessage, so it's the end-user that suffers with lack of secure messaging. We'll either have to sell our souls to Facebook Inc and use WhatsApp or disown any 'friends' who use Android I guess..
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Apple's Long-Delayed HomeView Was Already Being Tested in 2024
Apple's Long-Delayed HomeView Was Already Being Tested in 2024
6 minutes ago
Apple Intelligence Coming to China in December With iOS 27.3
Apple Intelligence Coming to China in December With iOS 27.3
33 minutes ago
Apple Invites App Updated With Two New Features
Apple Invites App Updated With Two New Features
38 minutes ago
OpenAI Says Ex-Employee Showed Its Device Plans to Apple
OpenAI Says Ex-Employee Showed Its Device Plans to Apple
2 hours ago
Discover the Best Cases and Screen Protectors for Your New iPhone Duo
Discover the Best Cases and Screen Protectors for Your New iPhone Duo
2 hours ago
Apple Store Near Los Angeles Closed Due to 'Events Beyond Our Control'
Apple Store Near Los Angeles Closed Due to 'Events Beyond Our Control'
4 hours ago
No, HomePod Mini 1 Won't Support Siri AI as CNET Reported
No, HomePod Mini 1 Won't Support Siri AI as CNET Reported
4 hours ago
iPhone Duo Compromises: Everything You Have to Give Up
iPhone Duo Compromises: Everything You Have to Give Up
5 hours ago
Apple HomeView Has These 15 Apps, Some CarPlay Apps and Widgets Also Supported
Apple HomeView Has These 15 Apps, Some CarPlay Apps and Widgets Also Supported
5 hours ago
iPhone Duo: Apple Charging $49 for New Cover Layer, $229 for Battery
iPhone Duo: Apple Charging $49 for New Cover Layer, $229 for Battery
6 hours ago
iPhone Duo: Skipping AppleCare+ Could Be $1,499 Mistake
iPhone Duo: Skipping AppleCare+ Could Be $1,499 Mistake
6 hours ago
Ready for HomeView? Don't Miss These Smart Home Accessory Deals
Ready for HomeView? Don't Miss These Smart Home Accessory Deals
7 hours ago
Apple Says HomePod 2 Also Works as Default Speaker With Select Macs
Apple Says HomePod 2 Also Works as Default Speaker With Select Macs
7 hours ago
HomePod Mini 2: All the New Features
HomePod Mini 2: All the New Features
7 hours ago
WhatsApp Now Lets Anyone Join Calls, No Account Needed
WhatsApp Now Lets Anyone Join Calls, No Account Needed
7 hours ago
AppleCare+ Launched 15 Years Ago Today
AppleCare+ Launched 15 Years Ago Today
7 hours ago
Apple Reportedly Planning Large iPhone 18 Production Run
Apple Reportedly Planning Large iPhone 18 Production Run
7 hours ago
Apple Says These Products Are Now Obsolete
Apple Says These Products Are Now Obsolete
7 hours ago
First Pre-Order Discounts Now Available for HomeView
First Pre-Order Discounts Now Available for HomeView
2 hours ago
Apple Launched iPhone 4S With Siri 15 Years Ago Today
Apple Launched iPhone 4S With Siri 15 Years Ago Today
8 hours ago
Apple HomeView Includes Temperature and Humidity Sensors
Apple HomeView Includes Temperature and Humidity Sensors
9 hours ago
HomePod Mini vs. HomePod Mini 2 Buyer's Guide: All Differences Compared
HomePod Mini vs. HomePod Mini 2 Buyer's Guide: All Differences Compared
9 hours ago
Apple Watch Sleep Apnea Notifications Launch in China
Apple Watch Sleep Apnea Notifications Launch in China
10 hours ago
HomeView's Faces Include Snoopy, Photos, and Interactive Artwork
HomeView's Faces Include Snoopy, Photos, and Interactive Artwork
10 hours ago
Apple's HomeView Repair Fees Revealed
Apple's HomeView Repair Fees Revealed
20 hours ago
Everything Apple Still Has Coming in October
Everything Apple Still Has Coming in October
21 hours ago
Welcome Home: Everything Apple Announced on October 13
Welcome Home: Everything Apple Announced on October 13
23 hours ago
Will the Full-Sized HomePod Get Siri AI? Apple's Website Offers a Clue
Will the Full-Sized HomePod Get Siri AI? Apple's Website Offers a Clue
23 hours ago
Apple Releases Third Public Betas of iOS 27.2 and macOS Golden Gate 27.2
Apple Releases Third Public Betas of iOS 27.2 and macOS Golden Gate 27.2
23 hours ago
iOS 27.2 Adds New Apple Music Icon
iOS 27.2 Adds New Apple Music Icon
23 hours ago