What is RCS?
In a nutshell, RCS is a set of communication standards for SMS, MMS and calling that will make text messages look and feel more like dedicated messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook Messenger, Google Hangouts and so many others. Basically, it aims to bring "texting" up to the modern standards with features we expect from messaging apps.
In 2007 a group of telecommunication industry companies founded the Rich Communication Suite industry initiative to use new technologies to create inter-operator communication services based on IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem). Text messages and phone calls generally work well, but they're pretty bland and don't make use of the full capabilities of the network they're being sent on. They had three primary goals:
- • Use a better contacts list that included things like more information about your people, if they were available and if they have seen the message you've sent.
- • Build a better messaging system that enables extras like instant chat, emojis and sharing data between the people participating.
- • Support enhanced calls with features like video calling and data sharing in real time.
- There are a few things that you'll want to understand about how RCS works, though, and how it still differs from dedicated third-party chat apps:
- Encryption — RCS messages are not end-to-end encrypted. Messages are encrypted during transit from you to a service provider (whether it be Google or a carrier) and from the provider to the destination, but the provider does have access. Google says messages will be deleted once they are received, but attachments may be held until all recipients have downloaded them. End-to-end encryption is something that can be added to RCS, but until that happens, you need to know that the service provider will have access to your messages.
- No multiple devices — At least not the way a service like iMessage allows. RCS still depends on your phone number like regular texting, so you won't be able to get messages on a computer or tablet unless your phone is the actual device doing the sending and receiving, like Android Messages for the web.
- No centralized user database — Services like Facebook Messenger or iMessage have a database of who is using the service and how. Google Messages with RCS enabled sends a query to the recipient's default messaging app asking if it's RCS capable. If it is, it says yes to the query and both parties will be able to use the extras that RCS brings. If it doesn't answer, you fall back to the regular SMS experience.
- It's not available everywhere — Google is pushing the RCS rollout with its own Messages app, but there are still incompatibilities with certain carriers and countries; and things get messy when you start talking about group messages with people across regions.
- Open Google Messages on your Android phone.
- If you don't have the app, you can download it for free.
- Tap the three dots in the upper-right corner.
Tap Settings
How to enable RCS Chat features in Google Messages in supported countries and on supported carriers
- Tap Chat features
- Enter your phone number.
Tap Continue.
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