Apple could have unified messaging years ago, and it chose not to

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By Johanna Romero

Published: Apr 01, 2026, 3:40 PM

This article may contain personal views and opinion from the author.

Texting in places like North America is fundamentally broken. | Image by Google

RCS 4.0 promises video calling, better encryption, and stronger spam filters. But when we asked what would actually make you switch your default messaging app, the answer was painfully simple: just put everyone on the same one. Close to 45% of you said exactly that, and it's hard to argue against it.

The one feature no update can deliver

We recently covered how the GSMA officially unveiled RCS Universal Profile 4.0, bringing a genuinely impressive set of upgrades. Built-in HD video calling, expanded group chats, better scam protection, and deeper encryption support are all included. On paper, it's the biggest leap RCS has taken in years.

So we asked a simple question: what would actually make you switch your default messaging app? Out of 665 participants, the largest group (44.21%) didn't pick any specific feature. They just want everyone on the same app. That's a clear sign of exhaustion with the status quo.

Encryption and video calling matter, but not as much as you'd think

Google Messages offers most of what we want in a messaging app, but it's not universal. | Image by PhoneArena

The rest of the answers painted a clear picture, too. About 26% said end-to-end encryption across iPhone and Android would seal the deal. That's a fair concern, especially since cross-platform RCS messages still aren't encrypted by default.

Apple has been testing encrypted RCS in its iOS 26.4 betas, but it doesn't look like it will ship in the stable release. So that 26% is asking for something that could still be months away, if not longer.

HD video calling built into the messaging layer grabbed 20% of the attention. It's a cool addition from RCS 4.0, but let's face it: FaceTime, Google Meet, and WhatsApp already exist. Nice to have, not need to have.

Spam and scam filtering came in last at just under 10%. That surprised me a little, because spam texts are genuinely awful right now. But I think it speaks to the bigger picture: people are so worn out by fragmentation that individual features barely move the needle anymore.

Apple is the elephant in the room

I'm going to be direct here. Google has been pushing RCS forward aggressively. Google Messages recently crossed 10 billion installs, and Google tends to adopt new RCS features fast.

Apple's RCS implementation, meanwhile, is still stuck on version 2.4, which launched with iOS 18 back in 2024. That's two years sitting on the same spec while the standard jumped all the way to 4.0.

Apple had the leverage to unify messaging years ago. iMessage could have gone cross-platform. Instead, Apple turned blue bubbles into a social pressure tool to keep people buying iPhones, and their own court documents show they knew making iMessage available on Android would hurt iPhone sales. That's not speculation.

So when 44% of our readers say they just want one app for everyone, they're venting frustration at a problem Apple has actively chosen to preserve. Google isn't blameless either (they've killed more messaging apps than I can count), but at least RCS is an open standard. Apple treating it like an afterthought is a choice, not a limitation.

What would actually make you switch your default messaging app?

The fragmentation problem isn't going away

I wish I could tell you RCS 4.0 is the thing that finally brings everyone together. But companies profit from keeping you inside their walls.

Apple benefits from iMessage exclusivity. Meta benefits from WhatsApp's dominance. Google benefits from being the default on Android. None of them have a real incentive to make messaging truly universal.

Personally, I've accepted that I'll always be juggling at least two or three messaging apps. I use Google Messages for texts, WhatsApp for international friends, and occasionally iMessage when someone with an iPhone insists on it. It shouldn't be this complicated in 2026, but it is, because the companies building these platforms want it this way.

The 44% who just want everyone on the same app are asking for the most reasonable thing imaginable. They're also asking for the one thing no software update can fix. This isn't a technology problem but a business model problem instead. As such, until that changes, no amount of RCS upgrades will scratch that itch.

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Johanna 'Jojo the Techie' is a skilled mobile technology expert with over 15 years of hands-on experience, specializing in the Google ecosystem and Pixel devices. Known for her user-friendly approach, she leverages her vast tech support background to provide accessible and insightful coverage on latest technology trends. As a recognized thought leader and former member of #TeamPixel, Johanna ensures she stays at the forefront of Google services and products, making her a reliable source for all things Pixel and ChromeOS.

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