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 offer a default text messaging experience directly to Android users instead of waiting for mobile providers. It's not the same Google service as Apple iMessage for Android users, but it's very close.
The biggest problem with RCS is that messages are still not encrypted end-to-end like iMessage, WhatsApp and Signal that are secured this way. Even Facebook (!) Has stated that it will make all applications encrypted by default.
Αλλά υπάρχει μια ελπίδα. Ο διευθυντής διαχείρισης productof Android Messaging, Sanaz Ahari, assures that Google recognizes the need for private chat in RCS and is working on it:
We fundamentally believe that communication, and in particular the exchange of 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 "throughout 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
Το RCS είναι το πρωτόκολλο σύνταξης κειμένου της επόμενης γενιάς που έχουν συμφωνήσει οι περισσότεροι πάροχοι κινητής σε όλο τον κόσμο. Τελικά θα έρθει για να αντικαταστήσει το SMS. Προσφέρει τα περισσότερα από τα χαρακτηριστικά που θα περιμένατε από μια σύγχρονη εφαρμογή ανταλλαγής μηνυμάτων, όπως τα αποδεικτικά ανάγνωσης, και λοιπά (αν και, πάλι, δεν θα διαθέτει end to end encryption). Η εφαρμογή Μηνυμάτων Android της Google θα αναφέρεται στο RCS σαν “Συνομιλία” ή “Chat.”
Η διαδικασία θα είναι opt-in. Δηλαδή: Όταν οι χρήστες ανοίξουν την εφαρμογή Μηνυμάτων του Android, θα μπορούν να επιλέξουν ανάμεσα στην παλιά υπηρεσία ή στην 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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