Google launches RCS globally

[Bradley Prior]

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.

 

[backstreetboy]

No thanks. Everything but the girl uses Whatsapp.

 

[Wut]

No thanks. Everything but the girl uses Whatsapp.

You obviously don't have many international friends.

 

[backstreetboy]

You obviously don't have many international friends.

Only in 'Murica do they use iMessage. Everywhere else it's Whatsapp.

 

[Nuro]

Quite cool as a backup since it's baked into most modern Android phones.

 

[KleinBoontjie]

Now, they can harvest your SMS's for data, too.....right?

 

[backstreetboy]

Now, they can harvest your SMS's for data, too.....right?

Actually not lol.

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

Can we get some privacy in here?

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.

 

[Polymathic]

Is this the service that works with no data?

 

[Ockie]

Is this the service that works with no data?

No, it uses your data connecting, be it your mobile network or wifi.

 

[2023]

Now, they can harvest your SMS's for data, too.....right?

You think they don't harvest your sms info currently?

 

[Ockie]

Quite cool as a backup since it's baked into most modern Android phones.

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.

 

[Nod]

Now, they can harvest your SMS's for data, too.....right?

Any passive monitoring system, like Netscout, can see your SMS content.

 

[ands45]

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.

My Xiaomi has it as standard on the device

 

[Nuro]

My Xiaomi has it as standard on the device

Same with my Huawei

 

[RandomGeek]

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

 

[Death]

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.

 

[Ockie]

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.

It will show you.

Chat Message (via RCS)




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

 

[nicroets]

You obviously don't have many international friends.

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.

 

[Wut]

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.

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.

 

[Death]

It will show you.

Chat Message (via RCS)
View attachment 956821



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

View attachment 956823

Many thanks for the trouble of getting an image. Much appreciated.