News

Apple Announces That RCS Is Coming To iPhone Next Year!

Published

10 months ago

November 17, 2023

Reading Time: 3 minutes

In a surprising announcement, Apple revealed today that it plans to embrace the RCS (Rich Communication Services) messaging standard. This new feature will be introduced through a software update scheduled for release “later next year.” The adoption of RCS will enable a plethora of iMessage-style functionalities for messaging between iPhone and Android users.

Apple’s decision is influenced by increasing pressure from regulators and competitors such as Google and Samsung. Additionally, the evolution and maturity of RCS as a communication platform have played a pivotal role in Apple’s decision-making process.

According to an Apple spokesperson, the company believes that RCS will provide improved interoperability for cross-platform messaging.

“Later next year, we will be adding support for RCS Universal Profile, the standard as currently published by the GSM Association. We believe RCS Universal Profile will offer a better interoperability experience when compared to SMS or MMS. This will work alongside iMessage, which will continue to be the best and most secure messaging experience for Apple users.”

What is RCS?

RCS, a messaging protocol primarily used by Google/Android users, offers chat features that are comparable to or even surpass Apple’s iMessage capabilities.

One of the key advantages of RCS is the ability to engage in live chats with multimedia elements such as web browser content, maps, and images, taking place within the user’s native inbox, like Android Messages.

Though SMS usage continues to increase, it has inherent limitations, considering its inception dating back to 1992. In response, RCS was developed in 2006 as a modern and advanced upgrade to SMS, catering to contemporary system requirements. It introduces a broader range of options, including support for images, videos, and improved security measures.

According to Robert Gerstmann from Sinch, RCS has the potential to replace traditional apps entirely. This concept might seem radical, but rich messaging capabilities can handle many common app functionalities such as checking balances or placing orders. Additionally, the verification process required for companies to establish trust among consumers further enhances engagement through this channel.

RCS introduces numerous iMessage-style functionalities to facilitate cross-platform messaging between iPhone and Android devices. This includes features like read receipts, typing indicators, the ability to share high-quality images and videos, and more.

With the implementation of RCS, Apple users will also gain the ability to share their location with others within text threads, utilizing either mobile data or Wi-Fi, unlike regular SMS.

It’s important to note that iMessage will remain the primary messaging platform for communication among iPhone users. RCS, on the other hand, will replace SMS and MMS while coexisting independently from iMessage whenever it is available. Apple clarifies that SMS and MMS will still be accessible as fallback options when required.

To be clear, Apple’s adoption of RCS is not equivalent to opening up iMessage to other platforms. Instead, it signifies the company’s decision to incorporate RCS separately, parallel to the functionality of iMessage.

Apple emphasizes that iMessage offers a superior level of security and privacy compared to RCS. iMessage is equipped with end-to-end encryption, and Apple has recently enhanced its security further with Advanced Data Protection for Messages in iCloud. In contrast, Apple asserts that the encryption supported by RCS is not currently as robust as iMessage.

The decision by Apple to adopt RCS comes after sustained pressure from competitors such as Samsung and Google. Despite this pressure, Apple had previously chosen to focus on strengthening the iMessage platform. Nonetheless, the company has made some enhancements to the SMS experience between iPhone and Android devices. For instance, in iOS 16, Apple improved Tapbacks support for conversations between iPhone and Android users. Additionally, in iOS 17, iPhone users (but not Android users) gained features like threaded replies and message editing in SMS group chats.

Furthermore, Apple has expressed its commitment to collaborate with GSMA members in enhancing the RCS protocol. This collaboration will particularly focus on improving the security and encryption of RCS messages.

C-TekGh’s Take

Apple finally being bullied into bringing RCS support to their iPhones is not only a win for advocates of the breakdown of closed-source software practices, it also makes us smile at how much it will destroy the smugness most Apple users have when it comes to proprietary applications like iMessage.

The fact that Apple is still using SMS and MMS messaging standards that were introduced in the 1990s, compared to Google and their adoption of RCS which was released in 2008, it would make you laugh even more when people speak of iMessage like an elitist and superior messaging service when they have been brainwashed to accept standards that should have been killed a decade ago.

No longer will we hear “iMessage games anyone” or that nonsensical blue vs green bubble debate that has raged on for years at this point, and to be honest, we at CtekGH are absolutely glad to see it experience a fitting end.

News

Unlimited Internet for Ghana: Starlink’s Satellite-Based Solution Now Available!

Published

1 week ago

August 28, 2024

Henri Allotey

Reading Time: 2 minutes

TLDR;

Starlink has officially launched in Ghana, allowing users to purchase a kit directly from their website for Gh¢5604.00 (hardware and shipping) and Gh¢770.00/month (unlimited internet).
The service aims to provide connectivity to underserved areas, such as remote communities, farms, and offshore rigs, rather than replacing existing urban infrastructure.
Starlink’s presence in Ghana is expected to drive competition, prompting local telcos and ISPs to offer better internet deals, and potentially leading to more accessible and affordable connectivity solutions in the future.

After months of waiting and constantly refreshing the Stalink availability map, they have finally officially commenced operations in Ghana, They sent out emails to all those who signed up for their pre-order when they first made announcements of planning to set up operations in Ghana.

You can now go to their official website to get a kit and ship it directly to your house without going through any third party or middleman.

The official cost on their website is ¢770.00 a month for internet connectivity, which will be unlimited, and Gh¢5604.00 for Hardware and shipping.

For most people, paying ¢770.00 a month for unlimited internet is a really good deal, but they won’t take a step towards getting it because of the cost of the kit. But STARLINK is primarily meant to provide “CONNECTIVITY WHERE YOU LEAST EXPECT IT” and not to replace Fibre and broadband options in the major cities or become that ubiquitous.

It is not their goal that every household should have a Starlink kit installed. But rather a lot of places where connectivity is & has been a major challenge up until now, get that solution. (ie. Remote areas, hinterlands, farms, on ships & boats, offshore rigs, mines & construction sites, etc)

However, they know how good the technology & solution are such that there’s increased demand and people would want to scale it up/utilize it by diversifying into other connectivity solutions; which might be more accessible or affordable for more people.

News

THE STARS ALIGN FOR STARLINK TO FINALLY COME TO GHANA.

Published

2 weeks ago

August 23, 2024

Eugine A.

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Starlink, the satellite internet company founded by Elon Musk, has received authorization from Ghana’s National Communications Authority (NCA) to start operations by the end of August 2024. This approval comes after several months of discussions between the NCA and SpaceX, Starlink’s parent company, primarily due to licensing and regulatory hurdles.

This milestone is viewed as a major boost for Ghana’s technological progress, given Starlink’s reputation for reliability across 102 countries.

Starlink operates using a network of low-Earth-orbit satellites that communicate with one another and with ground stations to provide high-speed, low-latency internet. This technology is well-suited for enhancing connectivity for both individuals and businesses.

Could the arrival of such a major international ISP see the local ISPs rise to the occasion, potentially leading to more innovative solutions and advancements in the sector or, would it simply blow them out of the water?

News

OpenAI Grants Early Access to US AI Safety Institute and Reaffirms Commitment to Safety Resource!

Published

1 month ago

August 2, 2024

Eugine A.

Reading Time: < 1 minute

TLDR;

OpenAI will provide the US AI Safety Institute early access to its upcoming safety test, aiming to collaborate on improving AI evaluation methods.
OpenAI is dedicating at least 20% of its computing resources to safety initiatives, following the dissolution of its Superalignment team, though a release date for the safety test is not yet specified.
In response to recent criticisms, OpenAI has taken steps to enhance transparency, including removing non-disparagement clauses for employees and making efforts to improve internal practices.

OpenAI has announced that it will grant the US AI Safety Institute early access to its upcoming safety test, as detailed in a tweet by OpenAI founder Sam Altman on X.

Altman explained that the aim of this early access is to collaborate on advancing the science of AI evaluations.

In the same post, Altman also emphasised OpenAI’s commitment to dedicating at least 20% of its computing resources to safety initiatives. This commitment was intended to be executed by the now-dissolved Superalignment team, which was co-led by Jan Leike, Head of Alignment, and Ilya Sutskever, co-founder and Chief Scientist of OpenAI. However, a specific release date for the safety test has yet to be announced.

Addressing recent criticisms, Altman suggested that OpenAI has taken meaningful steps to enhance transparency as part of its safety measures.

He noted, “In May, we eliminated non-disparagement clauses for both current and former employees and removed provisions that allowed OpenAI—though they were never used—to cancel vested equity. We’ve made significant efforts to rectify these issues and improve our practices.”