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 relatively public, with Google goading Apple on many events, and Apple refusing to assist 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 provider within the US now assist RCS messaging. However what precisely is RCS, what options does it have, and which units 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 flip it on and every little thing you might want to 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 switch SMS and MMS messaging, the codecs we’re all aware of as they’ve been round for years. RCS messaging could be very very similar to WhatsApp, the place stay chat can happen, together with multimedia assist, with every little thing dealt with through the information community.
This implies RCS messages might carry extra data, so customers can ship issues like full-resolution pictures, movies, and audio messages to 1 one other.
The largest benefit RCS Messaging has over SMS — and the rationale it was carried out 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 pictures, movies, and audio messages to 1 one other. Typing indicators and browse receipts are additionally a part of RCS messaging, which is one thing customers certainly love.
Customers can perform video calls with each other immediately throughout the messaging app, relatively than having to depend on third-party software program. Group messages are potential, and little issues reminiscent of 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, bundle 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 if you happen to’re at the moment having an encrypted dialog by on the lookout for the lock icon subsequent to the time stamps to your messages, search for a banner within the thread that reveals a lock icon together with the contributors’ names, or search for the lock icon on the ship button.
If you wish to verify your dialog is non-public, you possibly can observe the directions Google lays out here to substantiate verification codes within the Messages app with particular contacts.
Which telephones and carriers assist RCS?
RCS is sort of common
Within the US, the key US carriers — Verizon, AT&T, Dash and T-Cellular — have agreed on a cross-carrier answer for RCS in a program referred to as CCMI — Cross-Service Messaging Initiative — and we’re now ready the place RCS is globally accessible and interoperable, besides Russia. At Google I/O 2023, Google stated there have been over 800 million month-to-month RCS customers.
When you ship an RCS message to somebody whose telephone or cell community would not assist it, will probably be despatched as a daily textual content message.
Does the iPhone assist RCS messaging?
RCS is lastly coming to the iPhone in 2024
Apple has announced that it may work to assist the GSMA Common Profile for RCS on the iPhone in late 2024. Apple’s announcement that it’ll assist RCS signifies that Google Messages and Apple iMessage would possibly work collectively, so it is potential by the tip of the 12 months, iPhone and Android customers can have cross-platform wealthy messaging. Precisely how common the assist is for RCS in iMessage, and what that have appears 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 primary motive why Apple adopted RCS in all probability has much less to do with Google and extra to do with elevated stress from the EU, with rulings that messaging apps have to work collectively within the Digital Markets Act.
For a few years, Apple has been below stress to assist RCS. Google has taunted Apple, with execs making statements about how RCS might make all units work higher collectively and extra securely. Google actually went to city on this as this video reveals.
The issue — particularly for customers within the US — is that iMessage is dominant and there is been some rigidity 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 which may all come to an finish in 2024.
The primary reason why Apple adopted RCS in all probability has much less to do with Google and extra to do with elevated stress from the EU, with rulings that messaging apps have to work collectively within the Digital Markets Act.
How can I see if I’ve RCS assist on my telephone?
It ought to be turned on by default, however you are able to do it manually
Firstly, if you happen to’re an Android consumer, it is best to use the Google Messages app and ensure it is the default messaging app (whereas different apps will assist it, Google’s method means you might want to 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 inform you if in case you have assist or not, and if it is enabled.
If 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. When you aren’t prompted, you possibly can flip it on through the directions above. In the identical menu, you may additionally discover different choices, reminiscent of controlling typing indicators and browse receipts. Observe that you just want wi-fi or mobile knowledge to ship RCS messages, so there’s additionally the choice to ship an SMS as an alternative if RCS messages cannot be despatched.
When 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 assist — one thing we anticipate to see with iOS 18 later this 12 months.
The iPhone is getting RCS messaging support, here’s what that means for you
Within the shock information of the 12 months, Apple is including RCS to the iPhone.
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