For instance, end-to-end encryption isn't part of the RCS spec. This makes Google RCS a bit like any other over-the-top messaging service-but tied to the slow and out-of-date RCS protocol. It works if both users have turned on the checkbox, but again, the original goal of a ubiquitous SMS replacement seems to have been lost. Users can dig into the Google Messages app settings and turn on 'Chat features,' which refers to Google's version of RCS.

The result is that Google is the biggest player that cares about RCS, and in 2019, the company started pushing its own carrier-independent RCS system. Apple executives have also indicated internally that they view easy messaging with Android as a threat to iOS ecosystem lock-in, so it would take a significant change of heart for Apple to support RCS. The carriers nixed a joint venture called the ' Cross-Carrier Messaging Initiative' in April, pretty much killing any hopes that RCS will ever hit SMS-like ubiquity. The result is that the RCS rollout has amounted to nothing but false promises and delays. Text messaging used to be a cash cow for carriers, but with the advent of unlimited texting and the commoditization of carrier messaging, there's no clear revenue motivation for carriers to release RCS. RCS was cooked up in 2008, and it adds 2008-level features to carrier messaging, like user presence, typing status, read receipts, and location sharing.

RCS was supposed to be a replacement for SMS-an on-by-default, carrier-driven text messaging standard.

Both users must also be in a 1:1 chat (no group chats allowed), and they both must have RCS turned on. The feature has been in testing for months, and now it's coming to everyone.Įncryption in Google Messages works only if both users are on the service. Google has announced that end-to-end encryption is rolling out to users of Google Messages, Android's default SMS and RCS app.

Signal group chat encryption