Google launches RCS globally

Bradley Prior

Bradley Prior

MyBroadband Journalist
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Oct 16, 2018
Messages
4,921
Reaction score
1,547
Google launches RCS globally

Google has announced that the Rich Communications Services (RCS) messaging standard is now available globally to Android users through Messages by Google.
 
Quite cool as a backup since it's baked into most modern Android phones.
 
beans100 said:
Now, they can harvest your SMS's for data, too.....right?
Click to expand...
Actually not lol.
www.theverge.com

Google is rolling out end-to-end encryption for RCS in Android Messages beta

Can we get some privacy in here?
www.theverge.com www.theverge.com

Just as importantly, Google has announced that it’s finally beginning to enable a key privacy feature: end-to-end encryption. For Android users who use Android Messages, one-on-one chats will eventually be end-to-end encrypted by default, meaning neither carriers nor Google will be able to read the content of those messages.
Click to expand...
 
Is this the service that works with no data?
 
Nuro said:
Quite cool as a backup since it's baked into most modern Android phones.
Click to expand...

Dont most Android manufacturers have their own default SMS app? Think the only ones that comes with Google Messages is Nokia and some other models that comes with Android One firmware.
 
Ockie said:
Dont most Android manufacturers have their own default SMS app? Think the only ones that comes with Google Messages is Nokia and some other models that comes with Android One firmware.
Click to expand...
My Xiaomi has it as standard on the device
 
Yet Another Instant Messaging platform. SA and many others have WhatsApp, some like Telegram, Chinese use WeChat...it comes down to first movers advantage, and in this case RCS is not it
 
So, how do I know if it's sending via RCS or via SMS? (i've got the feature enabled to send over wifi/mobile "when available")
Will all messages I receive reply using RCS now?
Is the cost simply just Data? What's the data cost compared to that of say Whatsapp or Telegram per message?
What happens if a send a message to someone without Google Messages as their default SMS app? Do I get charged for an SMS?

For those not in the know, this article doesn't really explain all that much.
 
Death said:
So, how do I know if it's sending via RCS or via SMS? (i've got the feature enabled to send over wifi/mobile "when available")
Will all messages I receive reply using RCS now?
Is the cost simply just Data? What's the data cost compared to that of say Whatsapp or Telegram per message?
What happens if a send a message to someone without Google Messages as their default SMS app? Do I get charged for an SMS?

For those not in the know, this article doesn't really explain all that much.
Click to expand...

It will show you.

Chat Message (via RCS)
1605868648858.png



Normal SMS (when other party does not have RCS enabled)

1605868734741.png
 
Norrad said:
You obviously don't have many international friends.
Click to expand...
Most of the world uses WhatsApp. The two exceptions are:
1. China because it's banned.
2. The US because everyone has unlimited SMS plans and there are many citizens who don't have international friends.

Note that E2E encryption does not hide the valuable metadata. I'm not sure if Google promised not to harvest it.
 
nicroets said:
Most of the world uses WhatsApp. The two exceptions are:
1. China because it's banned.
2. The US because everyone has unlimited SMS plans and there are many citizens who don't have international friends.
Click to expand...
Japan doesn't and neither does Thailand or the Philippines. Those are from personal experience traveling there and no-one knows what it is in any of those countries. I had to install Line for Japan and Thailand and the Philippines use FB Messenger.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter