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Next year, texting between iPhones and Android phones won't be so terrible
In a shocking move, Apple announced today that it will bring RCS support to the iPhone next year.
Apple today announced that it plans to bring Rich Communication Services (RCS) to the iPhone next year, replacing the SMS and MMS standards. The company says that RCS will debut as a software update later next year. "We believe RCS Universal Profile will offer a better interoperability experience when compared to SMS or MMS," the company said in a statement. "This will work alongside iMessage, which will continue to be the best and most secure messaging experience for Apple users." The move will bring certain features once exclusive to iMessage, like read receipts and higher-quality media, to both iOS and Android users.
How to enable RCS messaging on Android devices
Send your hi-res photos and videos faster and more securely with RCS messaging
Sending a text message isn’t exactly rocket science, but attempting to decipher the various acronyms associated with text messaging standards can get a bit tricky. For years, smartphones have utilized SMS and MMS protocols for sending and receiving messages, but tech is always moving forward. Now, there's RCS for firing off messages and sharing photos. RCS has actually been around for a long time; it's only now that the protocol is being introduced to Android's Messages app.
Google calls out Apple for not adopting RCS, yet again
Google has launched a campaign against Apple for not adopting RCS on the iPhone, yet again. The latter company seemingly doesn't care.
The battle between Blue and Green Bubbles goes years back. For the unfamiliar, when an iPhone user texts someone with an Android phone, the chat bubble appears as green. Apple reserves the blue bubbles for iMessage users. In many regions, this whole drama is insignificant. After all, billions of users around the globe depend on third-party instant messaging (IM) apps to reach their friends and family. Nonetheless, those who use the default Messages apps included on their phones have to deal with inconveniences when texting someone on a different operating system. A potential solution for this communication gap is RCS. Google -- which already supports it on Android OS -- has called out Apple multiple times for not adopting this standard. The iPhone maker seemingly doesn't care and continues to ignore the mater. As a result, Google has launched a campaign calling out Apple for resisting RCS, yet again.
Google sends Apple a direct message about iMessage at IO
Google has thrown shade at Apple during its I/O 2022's main keynote for not supporting Rich Communication Services (RCS).
It's no secret that Apple tends to stick to its proprietary solutions when it comes to its hardware and software. For example, the company still includes the Lightning port on all of the iPhones it puts out. In the meantime, most smartphone manufacturers have already switched to USB Type-C ports. It's a universal charger that works across countless brands and devices -- making everyone's lives easier. Another example is Apple not adopting Rich Communication Services (RCS). Right now, iPhone users have two options in the Messages app. They either send iMessages to other Apple device owners or fall back on the ancient and outdated SMS when iMessage is unavailable. Meanwhile, Google has adopted RCS in its Messages app -- allowing Android users to take advantage of the protocol, regardless of their phone brands. Google has now (once again) thrown shade at Apple for resisting RCS during its I/O 2022's main keynote.
Google really wants Apple to support RCS messaging
Google SVP Hiroshi Lockheimer is publicly calling on Apple to support Rich Communication Services, or RCS for short.
Google has failed to establish a messaging platform for Android devices comparable to Apple's iMessage. Between the slow death of Google Hangouts, the short life of Google Allo, and the gradual rollout of RCS that is dependent on either specific applications (mainly Google Messages) or mobile network operators, Google hasn't quite figured it out yet. That isn't stopping the company from pushing Apple to implement RCS, though.
Google Messages will make it less annoying to chat with your iMessage friends
Google Messages on Android now supports interpreting emoji reactions sent through iMessage, making it less annoying to chat with Apple users.
iOS and Android --as mobile operating systems -- don't always get along well with each other. For example, iPhone users can't send files to Android phones via Bluetooth without using third-party apps. Another incompatibility plenty of Android users suffer from is iMessage emoji reactions. For the unfamiliar, when an iMessage user reacts to a text from an Android user, the latter receives a repetitive text version of it. For example, the Google Messages app would display Laughed at "Apple and Google will eventually be friends!" as a text message sent from the Apple user, rather than actually adding a laugh reaction to the existing text the Android user has originally sent. Google has finally started rolling out a feature that fixes this issue.
Verizon joins T-Mobile and AT&T in using Google Messages for RCS
All major U.S. carriers are now using Google Messages for RCS as Verizon announced they're pre-loading it on their phones starting next year.
The RCS dream, having RCS replace SMS across the board, has not materialized as quickly or vastly as people hyped about the technology thought it would be, but the good news is that it's getting there. Google, as the biggest proponent of this technology, has rolled out RCS to people around the world, regardless of carrier support, through the Google Messages app, and millions of users (exactly 444 million a month across 60 countries, according to the GSMA) are texting their family, friends, and acquaintances over RCS every day. And carriers in the U.S. are getting into it as well. While their initial objective was to build a proprietary, cross-carrier app for RCS, they've since scrapped that and decided to just use Google's Messages app instead. First, it was T-Mobile, and then AT&T. Now, Verizon is joining in as well.
[Update: Samsung Only] Google Messages has a hidden RCS API for third-party apps
The Google Messages app has a hidden Android Messages API that could let third-party messaging apps send RCS messages.
RCS, which stands for Rich Communication Services, is generally seen as the successor to SMS. It supports features like group chat management, higher quality file shares, read receipts, typing indicators, and end-to-end encryption. In order to use the RCS protocol for chats, it has to be supported by the network, the phone's OS, and the phone's messaging app through an API. American carriers dragged their feet for too long in adopting RCS, so Google bypassed them entirely and added their own RCS backend to the Google Messages app. However, on Android, only the Google Messages app can access Android's RCS API. That could change if Google opens up its "Android Messages API."
AT&T's Android phones will use Google Messages for RCS
AT&T has announced that instead of using its Advanced Messaging service, its Android phones will use Google Messages for RCS.
Rich Communication Services, or RCS for short, is the successor to SMS, the protocol used by most carriers for text messages. Unlike SMS, RCS supports advanced messaging features like group chat management, higher quality file sharing, read receipts, typing indicators, and end-to-end encryption. RCS has to be supported by the carrier's network, the phone, and the phone's messaging app, and to nobody's surprise, carriers are lagging behind in adopting the new technology. Frustrated by the slow adoption by carriers, Google baked its own RCS service into the Google Messages app and has been pushing carriers to make it the default messaging service on Android phones. Today, AT&T has announced that all Android phones on the network will use Google Messages for SMS and RCS.
End-to-end encrypted messaging is now available for more users in Google Messages
End-to-end encrypted messaging is now rolling out to more users in Google Messages, giving RCS another advantage over SMS.
Google began rolling out end-to-end encryption at the end of last year for select Google Messages beta users who have enabled Chat, Google's implementation of RCS. End-to-end encryption ensures that conversations stay encrypted from when they leave your smartphone, to when they arrive at the other end. There is no server-side decryption, meaning that data can't be collected in the middle from the servers that pass your messages along. This is a selling point of many texting applications like Signal as it's a major step towards ensuring the privacy of a user, and now it's finally rolling out to more users who use Google Messages.
Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T end their cross-carrier RCS plans
Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T have officially ended the CCMI, their joint cross-carrier RCS initiative. Read on to know more!
The rollout of the RCS standard to replace SMS has been... well, rough, for lack of a better word. Google has been the main force behind broadening RCS adoption by including the feature inside their Messages app, cutting the middlemen (carriers) so everyone can get RCS with a simple toggle from their app, and making deals with OEMs, so the app comes preloaded on a lot of Android phones, but everyone also wants to do things their own way while others insist on proprietary messaging platforms for cold, hard cash (I'm looking at you, Apple). The result? Things are currently a mess, although they have improved a lot. Nonetheless, among those interested in RCS adoption are the 3 major U.S. carriers: Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T. And their joint RCS initiative, the Cross Carrier Messaging Initiative, was apparently axed according to a report from Light Reading (via: The Verge).
Google's RCS-based Chat features are rolling out for some in the Samsung Messages app
Samsung has started rolling out support for Google's RCS-based Chat features in the Samsung Messages app for some users.
Samsung and Google have been working together to ensure that their respective messaging apps "work seamlessly with each company's RCS technology" since 2018. However, the Samsung Messages app currently only supports RCS through carriers and Samsung Galaxy users have to install the Google Messages app on their devices to utilize Google's RCS-based Chat features. But that's set to change soon as some users have started receiving support for Google's RCS-based Chat features in Samsung Messages.
Google Messages RCS reactions and sticker suggestions are now official
RCS is considered by some to be the iMessage equivalent for Android, and the latest Google Messages update brings a very iMessage-like feature.
The plainly named Messages app is now Google's champion in its attempt to refocus its messy messaging strategy. A big part of that strategy is RCS support, which has been slowly rolling out to more people (despite carrier involvement). RCS is considered by some to be the iMessage equivalent for Android, and the latest update brings a very iMessage-like feature.
Google and T-Mobile join up to make RCS support work better across carriers
Google has been trying to push RCS in the US. Today, Google and T-Mobile announced a joint effort that makes RCS work better across carriers.
The rollout of RCS support in the US has been pretty messy. Back in November, Google took matters into its own hands and enabled RCS support for everyone in the US using the Messages app. That was a big step, but it didn't solve all the problems. Today, Google and T-Mobile announced a joint effort that makes RCS work better across carriers.
[Update: More Countries] RCS support in Google Messages is rolling out in Italy
RCS in Google Messages is now officially being rolled out in one new European country: Italy. Download the messaging app now to chat!
Rich Communication Services, or RCS, is a communication protocol that's often described as the successor to SMS or an alternative to iMessage for Android. With RCS, users can exchange media files in high quality, see read receipts, see typing indicators, start group chats, and more over mobile data and even Wi-Fi. However, universal, app-independent RCS support requires carriers to implement the protocol in their networks, which some have done while others have dragged their feet on. Google has been pushing RCS adoption under its "Chat" banner, using the company's own servers and "Messages" app to bypass the need for carrier adoption. So far, Google has rolled out RCS in the Google Messages app for users in the U.S., Spain, the U.K., and France, but now they're expanding support to another European country: Italy.
[Update: Wider Rollout] Google Messages starts showing emoji chat reactions for RCS conversations
According to a recent post on Reddit, Google Messages has started rolling out emoji chat reactions for RCS conversations.
An APK teardown of Google Messages beta (v5.7) from earlier this year revealed that the company was working to add two new features to the app. At the time, we learned that these new features would allow users to share emoji reactions to messages on the platform and draw on images that they are preparing to share with friends. Now, according to a recent post on Reddit, Google has finally started rolling out emoji chat reactions for RCS conversations.
Google Play Services 20.15.13 prepares to add a page to list RCS/Chat apps
Latest Google Play Services update adds hints of new page to list and set up SMS apps that support RCS aka Chat features in Android.
Messaging in the U.S. differs majorly from the rest of the world. While apps like WhatsApp and Telegram have become the staple communication platforms in many countries, Android users in the U.S. still pretty much rely on SMS for messaging, especially because their counterparts using iPhones are hooked to Apple's iMessage. This has inspired Google to develop a parallel, leading to the company to help push RCS messaging. Rich Communication Services, which Google simply calls "Chat", supports multimedia features and read receipts, unlike SMS. While RCS and Chat have been limited to a handful of first-party messaging applications, including Google's Messages app, there are many users out there who probably don't know it's available.
Google Messages gets RCS support for everyone in Spain
The Android Messages app got RCS support in the UK and France last summer and now Google is bringing support to Spain as well.
Google has been taking RCS matters into its own hands as of late. After trying to work with OEMs and carriers to get greater support, Google started pushing RCS on its own last year. The Messages app got RCS support in the UK and France last summer and now Spain is joining the fun.
Google is rolling out RCS/Chat in Messages for all US users regardless of carrier
People have been begging Google to bypass the carriers and enable RCS in the US for everyone. Google is finally doing exactly that.
Earlier this year, Google surprised people by bypassing carriers and enabling RCS for users in the UK and France. Since SMS is less used in those two countries due to the prevalence of messaging apps like WhatsApp, the RCS rollout wasn't that big of a deal. At that time, however, Google said they would love to do the same in the US, but they had to work things out with carriers. Still, people wondered why they couldn't just bypass the carriers altogether as they did in the UK. Google is finally doing exactly that.
Skip the wait: Enable RCS right now in Google Messages for any carrier
Tired of waiting for your carrier to enable RCS? Here's how to enable it right now on any carrier or device, provided you're using Google's Messages app.
As we all know, the messaging situation on Android is a bit of a mess...at least in the United States. While most of us in the U.S. still use SMS, the rest of the world has shifted to better messaging services like WhatsApp or Telegram. It's not easy to convince your friends and family to switch to a new chat app, so a lot of power users in the U.S. are banking on the SMS to RCS transition to improve the messaging situation. Despite Google's best efforts, the company has only managed to enable RCS for all users in the UK and France, two markets where it's not as desired. Thanks to a couple of Redditors, there's now a way to force enable RCS on any carrier or device, provided you're using Google's Messages app.