Although we have heard that the RCS (Rich Communication Services) protocol will replace SMS, in fact the use of the service was almost impossible due to the complicated policy of mobile providers and telephone companies.
But Google seems to have found a solution: later this month, Android users in the UK and France will be able to opt for RCS chat services provided directly by Google instead of telephony providers.
For the first time Google will directly offer one default texting experience to Android users instead of waiting for mobile carriers. It's not the same Google service as Apple's iMessage for Android users, but it's pretty close.
The biggest problem with RCS is that messages are still not end-to-end encrypted like iMessage, WhatsApp and Signal which are insured in this way. Even Facebook (!) has mentioned that it will make all apps encrypted by default.
But there is a hope. Android's messaging product manager Sanaz Ahari says Google recognizes the need for private chat on RCS and is working on it:
We fundamentally believe that communication, and especially respchange messages, is highly personal and users have a right to privacy in their communications. We are fully committed to finding a solution for our users.
So if you have an Android device, RCS release time is near. Google says it will roll out the service to more countries “across duration of the year", but does not commit that it will be released in all countries.
As with everything related to Google's messaging strategy in general and Rich Communication Services (RCS) in particular, nothing is done with the speed or clarity we would like. But it will eventually happen although there are not many details at the moment.
How Google's RCS service will work
RCS is the next generation texting protocol agreed upon by most mobile providers around the world. Eventually it will come to replace SMS. It offers most of the features you'd expect from a modern messaging app, such as read proofs, and more (though, again, it won't have end-to-end encryption). Google's Android Messaging app will refer to RCS as "Chat" or "Chat."
The process will be opt-in. That is: When users open the Android Messages app, they will be able to choose between the old service or the upgrade in the RCS Chat service.
This will also apply to new phones. RCS Chat will come as the default app and will be offered to every Android user, but for now it will not be the default.
The new service will be available in the UK and France this month, and later to all Android users.
So if at some point you get a prompt to change the service, click Yes to enable Google RCS. Then if you see a "Chat" application and you will be able to talk to someone else who has RCS.
Messages will be encrypted during transfer, but will not be fully encrypted end to end. This way the RCS provider (ie Google) will be able to see the content of your messages and give them to the government, or use them for its own benefit.
Google of course states that it will delete them from its servers as soon as they are delivered to your phone.
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