this post was submitted on 25 Jul 2026
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Linux Phones
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The Discussion on Linux-based Phones.
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From what ive seen the phone providers are using googles backend software called "Google Jibe". Its theoretically open, but in practice everyone depends on googles stack and the entire concept of RCS would immediately cease existing if google willed it.
Also by the fact that it doesnt work on degoogled phones you can surmise that google has the ability to disable or limit the feature on any device with google play services.
Its just inherently flawed and clearly an attempt at "open washing"
A lot of them are. But Google is not the only option. There are carriers that roll their own solution, rater than using googles white label solution. Chinese carriers are for example offering RCS under the name of 5GMessaging and they aren't using Jibe.
but that's a client problem, not a server problem. There are providers in some regions who offer their own apps that still work with custom roms. It's just the Google Messaging app that does play services attestation. Almost everyone uses this client, but it is only almost everyone.
I don't disagree that there is some open washing going on, but that wasn't your original claim. You stated that Google needs to approve any client and that's just factually wrong.