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I think it implies a Linux desktop client could also be created.

How the heck does the statement imply that?

The parent comment guesses they were avoiding saying Android, but, in analogy with imessage availability on both macos/ios, there's linux/android. But, yes, when I wrote "I think" i can't claim that's what they meant, just that's my reading of it.

How many Linux desktops send text messages?

Depends on how broadly you define "text message". But if we treat iMessage as such, why not e.g. Signal?

"Text message" meaning "sends sms". RCS is (for all intents and purposes) an upgrade to SMS. How many Linux desktops have a phone number and a SIM card (or equivalent)?

Signal made the design choice to require a phone number to operate. Just as with Google Messages, Whatsapp, telegram, and most others, the desktop application for Signal requires you to auth via the app on your phone, which is authed to the network via your phone number.

iMessage is tied to an Apple ID and doesn't require you to have a phone at all.

I think that because macos desktops can route messages through the imessages app, not that it already is implemented for Linux today.

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