The European Union had investigated Apple’s iMessage and some of Microsoft's services under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) for about five months. It has now finally reached a conclusion, stating that these services will not be categorized as “gatekeepers.”
Simply put, if you were expecting iMessage on your Android smartphone, the possibility has now been ruled out. The EU asserts that the California tech giant doesn’t need to make iMessage interoperable with other messaging apps.
iMessage Not a Key Factor for iPhones
The EU had earlier labeled iMessage as a “core platform service” owing to its large customer base. However, Apple argued that iMessage is not considered an important factor when purchasing iPhones, and its usage in Europe is negligible compared to other messaging platforms such as WhatsApp.
A thorough investigation commenced last September, involving the DMA committee and relevant stakeholders. Following an in-depth analysis of all the arguments, which lasted for about 5 months, the EU decided that iMessage does not qualify as a “gatekeeper” service.
What Would the EU’s New Rule Mean to Apple?
Had the EU ruled against Apple’s arguments, the company would have been required to make changes to iMessage, making it available on different platforms. Offering interoperability with other messaging platforms would also be a compulsion.
In essence, other apps like WhatsApp could request interoperability from Apple’s iMessage, making it possible to send messages from those platforms to iMessage. Apple would have no choice but to comply.
Meta’s Messaging Apps Labeled as Gatekeepers
Unlike Apple, Meta couldn’t save its messaging apps falling under the “gatekeeper” category. The company now needs to make two of its messaging apps – WhatsApp and Messenger – interoperable with other platforms.
Be it Telegram, Signal, or Google Messages, any platform can now ask for interoperability from Meta, allowing its users to chat with people on WhatsApp or Messenger. iMessage’s fate could have been the same if it had not been granted an exemption.
iMessage To Receive RCS Support Soon
While Android users won't get support for iMessage, Apple is finally adopting the Rich Communication Services (RCS) standard.
Android has supported RCS for a while, offering iMessage-like features such as typing indicators, high-quality media sharing, read receipts, and more. Google has been vocal about standardizing the RCS protocol across all smartphones for a better messaging experience between iOS and Android platforms.
Interestingly, Apple, traditionally hesitant about this standard, recently announced it is bringing RCS support to iMessage. It will arrive on iPhones via a software update sometime later this year. Some iMessage features exclusive to iPhones will no longer be exclusive.
A Few Microsoft Services Have Also Received an Exemption
Apart from Apple's iMessage, a few of Microsoft's offerings, including the Bing search engine, Edge browser, and the advertising service Microsoft Advertising, were also under assessment.
Microsoft rebutted that these services were relatively smaller challengers to other similar players in the market. The EU decided in Microsoft’s favor, stating that Bing, Edge, and Microsoft Advertising would not be designated as “gatekeepers.”
It's worth noting that while the European Union has granted these exemptions to Apple and Microsoft for now, it will continue to monitor any future developments of these services.
