For a few years there was a operating battle between messaging providers. 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 commonplace: 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 cellular service within the US now assist RCS messaging. However what precisely is RCS, what options does it have, and which gadgets is it obtainable on?
How to set up RCS chats on your Android phone
Do you wish to activate RCS messaging in your Android telephone? This is methods to flip it on and every part that you must learn about this characteristic.
What’s RCS?
The way forward for textual content messaging is right here… sort of.
Wealthy communication providers (RCS) is a protocol between cellular operators and telephones. The general purpose of RCS is to interchange SMS and MMS messaging, the codecs we’re all aware of as they’ve been round for years. RCS messaging may be very very like WhatsApp, the place dwell chat can happen, together with multimedia assist, with every part dealt with through the information community.
This implies RCS messages might carry extra info, so customers can ship issues like full-resolution images, movies, and audio messages to 1 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 info, so customers can ship issues like full-resolution images, 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 straight throughout the messaging app, relatively than having to depend on third-party software program. Group messages are potential, and little issues similar to learn receipts and indicators to point out different customers are typing a message are included as effectively. RCS messages additionally did away with the 160-character restrict presently 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?
Brief 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 possibly can confirm should you’re presently having an encrypted dialog by on the lookout for the lock icon subsequent to the time stamps in your messages, search for a banner within the thread that reveals a lock icon together with the individuals’ names, or search for the lock icon on the ship button.
If you wish to verify your dialog is non-public, you may comply with 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 foremost US carriers — Verizon, AT&T, Dash and T-Cell — have agreed on a cross-carrier answer for RCS in a program referred to as CCMI — Cross-Service Messaging Initiative — and we’re now able the place RCS is globally obtainable and interoperable, besides Russia. At Google I/O 2023, Google mentioned there have been over 800 million month-to-month RCS customers.
Should you ship an RCS message to somebody whose telephone or cellular community would not assist it, will probably be despatched as an everyday textual content message.
Does the iPhone assist RCS messaging?
RCS is lastly coming to the iPhone in 2024
Apple has announced that it should 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 top of the yr, iPhone and Android customers could have cross-platform wealthy messaging. Precisely how common the assist is for RCS in iMessage, and what that have appears to be like 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 most likely has much less to do with Google and extra to do with elevated stress from the EU, with rulings that messaging apps must 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 may make all gadgets 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 completely 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 primary reason why Apple adopted RCS most likely has much less to do with Google and extra to do with elevated stress from the EU, with rulings that messaging apps must 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, should you’re an Android consumer, you must use the Google Messages app and ensure it is the default messaging app (whereas different apps will assist it, Google’s strategy means that you must 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 you probably have assist 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 will be requested if you wish to activate RCS Messaging. Should you aren’t prompted, you may flip it on through the directions above. In the identical menu, you will additionally discover different choices, similar to controlling typing indicators and browse receipts. Notice that you just 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.
Should 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 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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