What is RCS messaging? The Android Chat texting service explained

- Whereas there have been many makes an attempt on Google's half to launch one, there may be one factor that Android has all the time lacked: a real messaging competitor to Apple's iMessage. That might all be set to alter as Google embarks on a large-scale rollout of the RCS (wealthy communication companies) messaging platform, including a raft of recent options to messaging on Android. 

However what precisely is RCS, what options does it have and which gadgets is or not it's accessible on? Learn on to seek out out the solutions to all these questions and extra. 

What's RCS messaging?

Wealthy communication companies is a protocol between each cellular operators and telephones. The general purpose of RCS is for it to ultimately exchange SMS and MMS messaging, the codecs we're all acquainted with as they've been round for years. 

RCS was first fashioned in 2007 and was taken over by the GSM Affiliation (GSMA), the business commerce physique that represents cellular operators worldwide, in 2008. In 2016, the GSMA agreed on a Common Profile - a set of requirements that every one cellular operators, telephone producers and software program suppliers can use to assist implement RCS on gadgets.

RCS messaging may be very very similar to WhatsApp, the place reside chat can happen, together with multi-media help, with every thing dealt with through the information community.

It is seen as a rival to Apple's iMessage service, though there are some delicate variations between how these companies function.

What is the present standing of RCS messaging?

For numerous years, RCS has been extensively supported by cell phone networks, software program and gadgets. It is supported by the inventory Google Messages app accessible on Android. The issue prior to now has been that cell phone networks have been handed duty for help and few moved on it. There are in all probability numerous causes for that - dropping SMS or MMS tariffs and dealing on cross-network features are prone to have seen RCS as low precedence. 

Nevertheless, in June 2019, Google took the reins again. This has seen RCS messaging supported on Android gadgets and utilizing Google's servers relatively than the cell phone community's servers. Google has stated, nonetheless, that if a community helps RCS, its personal servers can be utilized for the switch of messages.

That obtained the system off the bottom, bringing a brand new messaging platform to Android customers - however Google solely focused France and the UK initially. Within the UK, the service went reside on 28 June 2019 for some customers; there was wider roll-out within the US in December 2019. 

Within the US the main US carriers - Verizon, AT&T, Dash and T-Cell - agreed a cross-carrier resolution for RCS in a programme referred to as CCMI - Cross-Provider Messaging Initiative and we're now able the place RCS is globally accessible and interoperable, apart from Russia and China.

At Google I/O 2022, Google stated there have been over 500 million RCS customers.

How can I see if I've RCS help on my telephone?

Firstly, 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 good to use its personal app).

• Open the app and hit the menu within the prime right-hand nook.
• Choose settings
• Choose Chat options
• Chat options will inform you if in case you have help or not, and if it is enabled

RCS is one thing that it's a must to decide into and when it turns into accessible through Google or your supplier, you'll obtain a notification asking you to decide in. You may must conform to Google's phrases and circumstances. In newer occasions, folks signing into a brand new telephone or opening the Messages app will probably be requested whether or not they need extra superior messages with chat options.

Any prices will probably be a part of your information plan, however remember that if in case you have no information, messages is not going to be despatched - and also you'd have to show off Chat to ship these messages through the SMS system as an alternative. 

What does RCS messaging do?

The largest benefit RCS Messaging has over SMS - and the explanation it was applied within the first place - is that it allows customers to ship wealthy, verified messages. This implies messages will have the ability to carry extra data, so customers can ship issues like photographs, movies and audio messages to 1 one other.

They are going to have the ability to perform video calls with each other from straight 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 indicate different customers are typing a message will probably be included as nicely. RCS messages may also eliminate the 160 character restrict at present present in SMS messages.

Companies will have the ability to use RCS Messaging to ship issues like boarding passes for airways, bundle supply notifications and bank card fraud alerts. 

They're options that Apple iMessage, WhatsApp and Fb Messenger have provided for a while, however Android telephones have gone with out in a default messaging software. For a lot of, having one app to deal with every thing will probably be key - and whether or not the brand new CCMI within the US will simply let folks use the Google app stays to be seen.

Are RCS messages safe?

RCS messages depend on information with the intention to be despatched between customers, and so messages are despatched with client-to-server encryption. The protocol must also forestall spam messages from reaching your machine, as for a corporation to have the ability to ship a message through RCS, they must undergo a model verification course of. RCS messages acquired from corporations could have the corporate's identify within the sender information, relatively than only a cell phone quantity - so it is in a greater place than SMS.

Following the invention of code regarding end-to-end encryption in an unreleased model of Google Messages it was clear that Google was planning to make this transfer and it went into beta in November 2020. From June 2021, end-to-end encryption is now a part of Chat in Google Messages. To confirm in the event you're sending an encrypted message, simply search for the lock subsequent to the ship arrow within the messaging app. 

Who's supporting RCS Messaging?

Many corporations, together with operators, producers and software program suppliers have pledged their help for RCS Messaging, however by far and away the most important supporter is Google. 

The expertise large has been making an attempt to extend the adoption of RCS messaging in recent times, because it needs to implement it in all Android telephones. Google is rolling out the brand new options afforded by RCS as "chat" and it's half the prevailing Android Messages app - alongside SMS and MMS.

Whereas the app on Android telephones is now widespread - you may obtain it from Google Play - the speed of adoption and success of RCS messaging is determined by the cellular operators. For the time being there are variations of the RCS protocol, so telephones utilizing RCS on some networks aren't supported elsewhere. It is these interoperability points that the GSM Affiliation's Common Profile goals to remove and one thing that Google has tackled.

For those who ship an RCS message to somebody who's telephone or cellular community do not help it, will probably be despatched as an everyday textual content message, however loads of work is underway to resolve that. For instance, Google and Samsung have been collaborating to make sure that respective RCS apps work collectively by Android Messages and Samsung Messages.

There are at present 60 supporters of RCS Messaging, damaged down into 47 cellular operators, 11 OEMs and a couple of OS suppliers. A giant omission is Apple, and whether or not Apple will cooperate with RCS stays an unknown. At the moment, communication between iPhone and Andorid gadgets reverts again to SMS in the event you're not utilizing a separate app, like WhatsApp. With rising cohesion and privateness throughout the remainder of the smartphone world, Apple may see that it is within the minority and the arguments for not supporting RCS may pale.

Cell operators

• Superior Data Service
• América Móvil
• AT&T Mobility
• Axiata
• Beeline
• Bell Mobility
• Bharti Airtel
• China Cell
• China Telecom
• China Unicom
• Claro Americas#Brazil
• Claro Colombia
• Deutsche Telekom
• Etisalat
• Globe telecom
• Indosat Oooredoo
• Jio
• KPN
• M1 Restricted
• MegaFon
• Millicom
• MTN Group
• MTS
• Optus
• Orange S.A. 
• Telecom Argentina
• Telecom Argentina#Private
• Play
• Rogers Communications
• Singtel
• Good Communications
• Dash Company
• StarHub
• Telcel
• Tele2
• Telefónica
• Telenor
• Telia Copany
• Telkomsel
• Telstra
• Telus
• TIM
• T-Cell US
• Turkcell
• Verizon Communications
• Veon
• Vodafone

OEMs

• Alcatel
• Asus
• Normal Cell
• Huawei
• HTC
• Intex Applied sciences
• Lava Worldwide
• LG Electronics
• Motorola
• Samsung
• ZTE

OS suppliers

• Google
• Microsoft

What about Apple? Does it help RCS?

Apple is noticeably absent from the record of OEMs that help RCS. The Cupertino tech large hasn't stated whether or not it's going to ultimately help the protocol or not, however for now it is not keen to undertake it. 

If Apple would not undertake RCS, many smartphone customers will nonetheless doubtless depend on apps reminiscent of WhatsApp and Fb Messenger to message family and friends between Android and iOS, in order that they will ship photographs, movies and different wealthy data.

Simply what impact this can have on RCS' success stays to be seen - though in the end, with Apple already providing iMessage to its customers, it'd by no means see the necessity to increase wealthy messaging to work together with customers of different platforms.

Via 2022, we have seen Google counsel that Apple adopts RCS on numerous events - implying that might result in safer messaging for all customers, no matter platform.