If you ever used imessages, you know how good it is. They can send messages over a data connection without carrier charges (which means FREE MESSAGING!), they can be sent from a computer, etc. But this features was only available to iphones only.
Click on Enable Chat Features if it's not already on.
Here, type in your phone number and hit Verify Now.
If the status says "Connected" then your registration was successful!
Type in your Phone Number and hit Continue.
Chat features are now enabled.
So what it's like to have those features on android?
Well, it already exists.
Recently Google x Jibe Mobile Inc. announced Rich Communication Features or RCS for their Google Messages app, which allows you to send a message over a network connection and without carrier charges. (Which means FREE messaging)
Samsung also integrated these features in the recent Samsung Messages Update.
So what is RCS?
Also known as Chat features, it is a communication protocol between mobile telephone carriers and between phone and carrier, aiming at replacing SMS messages with a text-message system that is richer, provides multimedia sharing, read receipts, reactions and more. (From Wikipedia)
So yeah it's more like whastapp but for your default messaging app.
So what are the requirements?
1. You need the latest Samsung Messages or Google Messages app.
2. RCS Supported SIM Card.
3. A stable network connection (of course)
Let's register for chat features!
I'm gonna walk you through the both apps on how to register your SIM for using Chat features.
Important: I recommend Google Messages app for the usage of Chat features, it has all of the features like reactions, read receipts, etc. Since the Samsung Messages adopted the technology recently, it lacks some features like reactions, and sometimes it's unstable.
1. Google Messages
Step1: Open the Google Messages app.
Step2: Tap on the 3dots, and hit Settings.
Step3: Go to Genaral> Chat Features.
Step4: Enable the Chat features and tap on "Verify Your Number"
Step5: Wait a couple minutes, and you should be registered with Chat features! Well Done!
2. Samsung Messages
Now registering Chat features with Samsung Messages will be complicated sometimes, it might fail couple times, but it's worth a try. So here's how.
Step1: Open the Samsung Messages app.
Step2: Click on the 3dots and hit Settings.
Step3: Go to Chat Settings.
Step4: Turn on Chat features, and you will be prompted to start registering for chat features.
Step5: Give it a few minutes.
(Now like on Google Messages, it won't tell you if the Chat features are " Connected ". Sometimes it will say "Registration Failed".)
If the Chat feature setting is ON even if you closed and reopen the app, that means it's ON! Well Done!!
Like I said, Samsung Messages app is a bit more complicated when registering for chat features, but they might fix this with an Update. But for now, I recommend you use the Google Messaging app if you wanna try RCS Chat Features.
Now what's the disadvantages of Chat Features?
Now the Chat features has some couple of disadvantages too, so let's get right in to it!
1.) If you want to send a message using Chat features, then therecipient should Enable the Chat features too.
Yes, if you want to send a message to a person who didn't register for chat features, then it will simply send as an SMS. Both the sender and recipient should Enable Chat Features to use Chat features.
2.)Recipient must be online to receive a Chat message.
If the recipient has turned off their network connection, then the Chat message will not be dilevered.
If they don't come online for a certain time period, then it will automatically send as an SMS (you can change this on settings)
3.)You must have a stable connection to send Chat messages.
So those are the disadvantages. It's not that big of a deal, and even you can't use Chat features, you can also send SMS at any time!
----Summary----
•RCS is a feature that allows you to send text messages from your default messaging app over an Internet Connection (without carrier charges).
•To try Chat features, download the latest Google Messages app from Playstore, open the app and register for chat features (Alternatively you can register using the Samsung Messages app too.)
•To use Chat features, the sender and receiver both must be registered to Chat features, and they both need to have a stable network connection.
•If the connection fails, it would simply delivered as an SMS, and you can use SMS as usual.
So that's my guide on how to enable RCS Chat Features on your Samsung or any Android device. Now this technology is not match for the Apple's IMasseges yet, but we'll get there someday!
Google also has an app for Windows that let's you sync your messages and, send messages directly from your PC.
Got any questions? Ask them on the comment section and I will try to answer them!
Make sure to like the post and if you have more tips for chat features, leave a comment too!
Download Links
Google Messages
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.messaging&hl=en_SG≷=US&referrer=utm_source%3Dgoogle%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_term%3Djibe+mobile&pcampaignid=APPU_1_TAPkYpd6sIPaug-u3a5w
Samsung Messages
Google Messages for PC
Until the next time!
Cyaa❤
