Pressure continues to mount on Apple to open up its closed iMessage system, which has been a staple feature of Apple devices for over a decade. The current iMessage setup offers a robust messaging experience exclusively for users within the Apple ecosystem. This exclusivity has been a major selling point for Apple devices, but the winds of change might be blowing.

One significant factor driving this potential transformation is the collective pressure from industry giants. Google, for instance, has been publicly urging Apple to adopt the Rich Communication Services (RCS) standard, which serves as the industry’s evolutionary step beyond traditional SMS and MMS messaging. RCS incorporates advanced features such as read receipts and high-quality media sharing. Google introduced RCS support in Android in 2019, making its motivations clear. Joining Google in this push is Samsung, the global smartphone market leader, which recently launched a campaign advocating for interoperability between iMessage and other messaging platforms. This joint effort aims to challenge Apple’s closed ecosystem approach.

While Apple is renowned for disregarding industry norms in favor of maintaining its ecosystem’s exclusivity, this time the challenges come from multiple fronts. The European Commission has also stepped into the fray, investigating whether iMessage should fall under the purview of the EU’s Digital Markets Act. This legislation imposes interoperability requirements on gatekeeper services, like iMessage, which are integral to people’s daily digital interactions. Although Apple has managed to keep iMessage outside the Act’s scope so far, the Commission’s ongoing inquiry might change this. If iMessage is brought under regulation, Apple could be compelled to introduce interoperability, potentially aligning with the RCS standard.

Drawing a parallel, this situation echoes Apple’s recent move to adopt USB-C for the iPhone 15, despite Apple’s initial resistance. The company complied when the European Commission mandated the change for sustainability reasons. Similarly, if the Commission decides that iMessage requires regulation, Apple might have to embrace interoperability, marking a significant shift in its messaging ecosystem.

The convergence of industry pressure, public campaigns, and regulatory scrutiny has created a perfect storm for Apple’s iMessage. The outcome of these developments could reshape how millions of users communicate, potentially opening up iMessage to a broader, more interconnected messaging landscape.