Edit: NOTE, I am the receiver of the texts.
So many people asking me to have my wife do something different on her end.
Beloved, she is on iPhone because she doesn’t want to do anything “weird.” She is texting from her phone number using her texting app. That’s what’s going to happen.
Now, why can’t I get iMessage on my android phone? If it’s just a messenger app why not make it available for Android?
I’d use it.
OP probably lives in North America, where texting never got displaced by messenger apps. Well, except for iMessage, but that’s a messenger app hidden behind a texting app, with confusing quirks like the terrible video quality OP reports.
Don’t worry, Google’s own Messages app does the same thing as iMessage, but using a different (and on paper more open) standard that isn’t compatible with iMessage (yet, I think the EU is forcing Apple’s hand).
the only reason Android was locked out of imessage was Apple, the only reason rcs is locked out of ios is Apple. it’s all Apple trying to keep the wall around its garden.
The EU actually ruled that iMessage isn’t a gatekeeper because it’s not used enough to be considered important for now. I do believe China is forcing phones to be RCS compliant though, so it’s still mostly about government pressure.