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For a few years there was a working 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 customary: RCS. The standoff between the tech giants has been somewhat 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 will assist 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 gadgets is it accessible on?
How you can arrange RCS chats in your Android cellphone
Do you need to activate RCS messaging in your Android cellphone? Here is the way to flip it on and all the pieces it’s good to learn about this characteristic.
What’s RCS?
The way forward for textual content messaging is right here… type of.
Wealthy communication providers (RCS) is a protocol between cell operators and telephones. The general goal of RCS is to exchange SMS and MMS messaging, the codecs we’re all conversant in as they’ve been round for years. RCS messaging may be very very similar to WhatsApp, the place stay chat can happen, together with multimedia assist, with all the pieces dealt with by way of the info community.
This implies RCS messages could carry extra info, so customers can ship issues like full-resolution images, movies, and audio messages to 1 one other.
The most important 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 means that iMessage does. This implies RCS messages could carry extra info, so customers can ship issues like full-resolution images, movies, and audio messages to 1 one other. Typing indicators and skim receipts are additionally a part of RCS messaging, which is one thing customers absolutely love.
Customers can perform video calls with each other instantly inside the messaging app, somewhat than having to depend on third-party software program. Group messages are attainable, and little issues similar to learn receipts and indicators to indicate 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, package deal 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 personal between the sender and recipient. Your conversations are encrypted with a key that solely both participant can entry. You’ll be able to confirm if you happen to’re presently having an encrypted dialog by in search of the lock icon subsequent to the time stamps on 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 affirm your dialog is personal, you possibly can observe the directions Google lays out right here to verify 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 resolution for RCS in a program known as CCMI — Cross-Provider Messaging Initiative — and we’re now able 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.
If you happen to ship an RCS message to somebody whose cellphone or cell community would not assist it, it is going to 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 introduced that it is going to 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 may work collectively, so it is attainable by the top 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 principle 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 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 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 person, it is a completely different coloration 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 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 have to work collectively within the Digital Markets Act.
How can I see if I’ve RCS assist on my cellphone?
It must be turned on by default, however you are able to do it manually
Firstly, if you happen to’re an Android person, you must use the Google Messages app and ensure it is the default messaging app (whereas different apps will assist it, Google’s method means it’s good to use its personal app).
- Open the app and faucet the menu within the high right-hand nook.
- Choose Messages settings.
- Choose RCS Chats.
- RCS Chats will inform you when you’ve got assist or not, and if it is enabled.
Once you check in to a brand new cellphone and open Google Messages for the primary time, you may be requested if you wish to activate RCS Messaging. If you happen to aren’t prompted, you possibly can flip it on by way of the directions above. In the identical menu, you may additionally discover different choices, similar to controlling typing indicators and skim receipts. Observe that you just want wi-fi or mobile information to ship RCS messages, so there’s additionally the choice to ship an SMS as a substitute if RCS messages cannot be despatched.
If you happen to’re an iPhone person, the present reply is you do not have entry to RCS messaging, and you may 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 assist, here is what meaning for you
Within the shock information of the 12 months, Apple is including RCS to the iPhone.
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