For a few years there was a operating battle between messaging companies. Regardless of many makes an attempt on Google’s half, there has by no means been a real messaging competitor to Apple’s iMessage.
Google has been pushing one other common customary: RCS. The standoff between the tech giants has been somewhat public, with Google goading Apple on many events, and Apple refusing to help RCS for a few years. Then, on November 16, 2023, Apple pivoted, saying it would support RCS in 2024. A second of unity is coming in cross-device messaging, it appears.
Since Verizon embraced Google’s RCS protocol in February 2024, all Android telephones and each main cell service within the US now help RCS messaging. However what precisely is RCS, what options does it have, and which gadgets is it accessible on?
How to set up RCS chats on your Android phone
Do you need to activate RCS messaging in your Android telephone? This is how you can flip it on and every thing it’s essential find out about this characteristic.
What’s RCS?
The way forward for textual content messaging is right here… type of.
Wealthy communication companies (RCS) is a protocol between cell operators and telephones. The general intention of RCS is to interchange SMS and MMS messaging, the codecs we’re all accustomed to as they’ve been round for years. RCS messaging could be very very like WhatsApp, the place reside chat can happen, together with multimedia help, with every thing dealt with by way of the information community.
This implies RCS messages might carry extra data, so customers can ship issues like full-resolution photographs, movies, and audio messages to at least one one other.
The largest benefit RCS Messaging has over SMS — and the rationale it was applied within the first place — is that it improves upon the SMS/MMS messaging expertise, a lot in the identical manner that iMessage does. This implies RCS messages might carry extra data, so customers can ship issues like full-resolution photographs, movies, and audio messages to at least one one other. Typing indicators and skim receipts are additionally a part of RCS messaging, which is one thing customers certainly love.
Customers can perform video calls with each other immediately inside the messaging app, somewhat than having to depend on third-party software program. Group messages are doable, and little issues equivalent to learn receipts and indicators to point out different customers are typing a message are included as nicely. RCS messages additionally did away with the 160-character restrict at the moment present in SMS messages.
Companies can use RCS Messaging to ship issues like boarding passes for airways, package deal supply notifications, and bank card fraud alerts.
Is RCS encrypted and safe?
Quick reply: Sure, it is end-to-end
Google Messages makes use of end-to-end encryption to make sure a dialog stays non-public between the sender and recipient. Your conversations are encrypted with a key that solely both participant can entry. You may confirm for those who’re at the moment having an encrypted dialog by searching for the lock icon subsequent to the time stamps in your messages, search for a banner within the thread that exhibits a lock icon together with the members’ names, or search for the lock icon on the ship button.
If you wish to verify your dialog is non-public, you may observe the directions Google lays out here to substantiate verification codes within the Messages app with particular contacts.
Which telephones and carriers help RCS?
RCS is nearly common
Within the US, the foremost US carriers — Verizon, AT&T, Dash and T-Cell — have agreed on a cross-carrier answer for RCS in a program known as CCMI — Cross-Service Messaging Initiative — and we’re now able the place RCS is globally accessible and interoperable, besides Russia. At Google I/O 2023, Google mentioned there have been over 800 million month-to-month RCS customers.
In case you ship an RCS message to somebody whose telephone or cell community does not help it, it will likely be despatched as an everyday textual content message.
Does the iPhone help RCS messaging?
RCS is lastly coming to the iPhone in 2024
Apple has announced that it’ll work to help the GSMA Common Profile for RCS on the iPhone in late 2024. Apple’s announcement that it’s going to help RCS implies that Google Messages and Apple iMessage would possibly work collectively, so it is doable by the top of the yr, iPhone and Android customers could have cross-platform wealthy messaging. Precisely how common the help is for RCS in iMessage, and what that have seems to be like when Android messages are supported, stays to be seen, however we anticipate to know extra after the opening keynote for WWDC 2024 on June 10.
The principle purpose why Apple adopted RCS in all probability has much less to do with Google and extra to do with elevated strain from the EU, with rulings that messaging apps must work collectively within the Digital Markets Act.
For a few years, Apple has been below strain to help RCS. Google has taunted Apple, with execs making statements about how RCS may make all gadgets work higher collectively and extra securely. Google actually went to city on this as this video exhibits.
The issue — particularly for customers within the US — is that iMessage is dominant and there is been some stress round blue and inexperienced bubbles. iMessage’s bubbles are inexperienced, with the default SMS bubbles being blue. When a message arrives from an Android consumer, it is a totally different colour than messages between iPhone customers. There’s been loads of social commentary round this, bordering on discrimination. However that may all come to an finish in 2024.
The principle reason why Apple adopted RCS in all probability has much less to do with Google and extra to do with elevated strain from the EU, with rulings that messaging apps must work collectively within the Digital Markets Act.
How can I see if I’ve RCS help on my telephone?
It ought to be turned on by default, however you are able to do it manually
Firstly, for those who’re an Android consumer, it’s best to use the Google Messages app and ensure it is the default messaging app (whereas different apps will help it, Google’s method means it’s essential use its personal app).
- Open the app and faucet the menu within the prime right-hand nook.
- Choose Messages settings.
- Choose RCS Chats.
- RCS Chats will let you know in case you have help or not, and if it is enabled.
Once you sign up to a brand new telephone and open Google Messages for the primary time, you may be requested if you wish to activate RCS Messaging. In case you aren’t prompted, you may flip it on by way of the directions above. In the identical menu, you may additionally discover different choices, equivalent to controlling typing indicators and skim receipts. Be aware that you simply want wi-fi or mobile knowledge to ship RCS messages, so there’s additionally the choice to ship an SMS as a substitute if RCS messages cannot be despatched.
In case you’re an iPhone consumer, the present reply is you do not have entry to RCS messaging, and you will want to attend till Apple formally provides help — one thing we anticipate to see with iOS 18 later this yr.
The iPhone is getting RCS messaging support, here’s what that means for you
Within the shock information of the yr, Apple is including RCS to the iPhone.
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