Is this basically an Android-only version of iMessages?
Upgrading Messaging on Android in the U.S. with RCS
11–20 of 165 posts
Re: Upgrading Messaging on Android in the U.S. with RCS
#12I am very curious how carriers will respond to Google deciding to preempt them by pushing an app update to redirect all text messaging straight to Google servers versus the carriers. Google seemed like it was respecting the carriers' involvement, right up until carriers announced plans to build their own RCS system that didn't give Google the data. Suddenly, Google is turning on RCS? Presumably Google was hoping it c…
To be honest, I think they might find after it's turned on that the limitation to the Google Messages app (which is not the default on Samsung devices and hence represents very little in terms of market share) doesn't move the needle at all and makes very little difference. Certainly, the impact of turning it on on the UK market seems to have been zero.
If Google follows through by enabling it system wide in future OS versions that might change a little, but Android being as it is that will take a long, long time, and the carriers probably suspect their own RCS implementations will have worked before then, or Whatsapp will just take over the US too and RCS will be dead.
Re: Upgrading Messaging on Android in the U.S. with RCS
#13I've only got a cursory understanding of RCS, but in what way is this good for consumers? I can understand how it's good for Google, but aside from Google it's unclear how anyone benefits.
New features vs SMS. Don't require customers to use silo'd apps (although I guess you could consider RCS a silo in itself)
Re: Upgrading Messaging on Android in the U.S. with RCS
#14Is this basically an Android-only version of iMessages?
Right now, yes, but without multi-device support. In theory Apple could join too and then it would work for everyone.
Re: Upgrading Messaging on Android in the U.S. with RCS
#15Is this basically an Android-only version of iMessages?
No, it's an industry agreed standard of an implementation similar to iMessage without end to end encryption.
It was created by many of the carriers as an upgrade to SMS.
Re: Upgrading Messaging on Android in the U.S. with RCS
#16Is this basically an Android-only version of iMessages?
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Re: Upgrading Messaging on Android in the U.S. with RCS
#17I've only got a cursory understanding of RCS, but in what way is this good for consumers? I can understand how it's good for Google, but aside from Google it's unclear how anyone benefits.
MMS is literally the worst. But convincing people to switch to a different chat app in the US is a losing battle.
Re: Upgrading Messaging on Android in the U.S. with RCS
#18Those are nice features, but half the people I talk to use iOS so I'm not going to use any of them. Trying to remember who has what is too much hassle.
Re: Upgrading Messaging on Android in the U.S. with RCS
#19Can anyone confirm the biggest issue (in my opinion) with RCS? It's not end-to-end encrypted. Update: Confirmed it myself [1]. End-to-end encryption is not even an option. Which is perfect for the data addicts like Google. But honestly I would never ever recommend this as an avenue for people to use over something like WhatsApp. [1]: https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/14/20964477/googles-rcs-cha...
Indeed, this seems to be needlessly kicking life back into SMS when it was already being replaced by better systems that respect privacy. Of course the decentralized nature of SMS is a good benefit but given how most telecoms are oligopolies disinterested in customers concerns about privacy (and plenty of other things like customer service) it pretty much defeats the value in it.
I wouldn't say needlessly. There's still something to be said for basic technologies that all devices can support.
Re: Upgrading Messaging on Android in the U.S. with RCS
#20Can anyone confirm the biggest issue (in my opinion) with RCS? It's not end-to-end encrypted. Update: Confirmed it myself [1]. End-to-end encryption is not even an option. Which is perfect for the data addicts like Google. But honestly I would never ever recommend this as an avenue for people to use over something like WhatsApp. [1]: https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/14/20964477/googles-rcs-cha...
The problem is: most people won’t care or know the difference.
This is going to strong arm things away from the messaging app market and iMessage.