Samsung is working with Google on RCS interoperability

[Greg S]

Highly anticipated: Rich messaging is finally going to become a usable part of Android as both Google and Samsung work to add support and cross-app compatibility to their messaging apps.

Samsung Electronics has shared that it is now working with Google to update Samsung Messages with Rich Communication Services (RCS) support. This update will allow Android Messages and Samsung Messages to seamlessly work together with RCS messaging on supported carriers.

Much like Apple's iMessage, WhatsApp, GroupMe, and other third-party messaging apps, RCS allows for many of the extra features not supported by regular SMS. Typing indicators, read receipts, sharing of larger images and files, and rich group chats will all become standard features.

Samsung is planning to bring RCS support to several of its existing phones. The Galaxy S8, S8+, S9, S9+, Note8, and Note9 as well as certain A-series and J-series devices will be receiving updates for Android 9.0 and above. Carrier support is still required to make use of RCS.

It is expected that future flagship phones from Samsung will also be receiving RCS support. Lower end models may eventually receive support, but Samsung's official stance is that only select future devices will be supported.

Arguably, the messaging experience on Android has not been the greatest. As different OEMs install different messaging apps, there is anything but consistency. Even carriers such as Verizon like to force their own messaging apps onto consumers. A more unified experience without eliminating choices should be welcomed in.

Since Samsung still holds a major share of the market and Google's Android Messages arrives as the default option for stock Android, this collaboration could finally put up real competition to iMessage and third-party apps.

Image Credit: Verizon Apps via Tom's Guide

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https://www.techspot.com/news/76396-samsung-working-google-rcs-interoperability.html

 

[psycros]

"A more unified experience without eliminating choices should be welcomed in."

A decade ago we had full interoperability between AIM and ICQ as well as between Windows Messenger and Yahoo Messenger. BBM was also a big deal. Then along came the iPhone and Google Chat (or whatever it was called then) which pretty much killed off the old standbys. Unfortunately, Google's chat also came with their corporate spying which everyone else has since imitated. The only answer now is end-to-end encryption with no middleman, and none of these data mongering companies are going to provide that. Whatsapp has been compromised since FB bought them..I wonder how many other encrypted messenger programs have been as well. Someone needs to step up and provide a cheap, fully encrypted chat service. I'd happily pay $1 a month for that.

 

[Axiarus]

"A more unified experience without eliminating choices should be welcomed in."

A decade ago we had full interoperability between AIM and ICQ as well as between Windows Messenger and Yahoo Messenger. BBM was also a big deal. Then along came the iPhone and Google Chat (or whatever it was called then) which pretty much killed off the old standbys. Unfortunately, Google's chat also came with their corporate spying which everyone else has since imitated. The only answer now is end-to-end encryption with no middleman, and none of these data mongering companies are going to provide that. Whatsapp has been compromised since FB bought them..I wonder how many other encrypted messenger programs have been as well. Someone needs to step up and provide a cheap, fully encrypted chat service. I'd happily pay $1 a month for that.

Yeah, iMessage already does that and I am kind of irritated that Google's solution does not.