According to 9to5G, Google is trying to make the RCS messaging end-to-end encrypted.
This is wonderful news as it will make the Messaging system more secure and at par with iMessage and WhatsApp.
Every phone has a basic SMS system as its default messaging app. Google integrated the Rich Communication Services (RCS) to its Messages app for Android back at the end of 2019.
Now, this RCS messaging system for Google Messages had rolled out for the US, the UK, and some other regions. So, it can only be enabled in your device if your carrier supports it and if it is available in your country.
To use this feature, you have to enable Google Messages as your primary messaging app. Android One and Google’s Pixels enable it as the default app, but if it is not there in your device, then all you need to do is to first download the Messages app from the Play Store. Then go to the phone Settings, choose Apps and Notifications, and then click on Advanced. From there, you can click on Default Apps and then choose the SMS App. From there, the Messages app can be easily chosen as the default app for your device.
Once you start using Messages, you can enable the RCS messaging system, which basically converts normal text messages into a chat type system.
To enable the RCS messaging, you have to open the Messages app’s Settings by tapping in the three vertical dots in the upper-right corner. Then click on Chat Features and select Enable Chat Features. This will turn on the RCS messaging.
You can also explore different features that RCS enables by checking out its Settings and other options.
It requires a continuous Wi-Fi connection or mobile data connectivity to run through. If either of these connectivity systems is not available, then the device will turn back the normal SMS, MMS system as the default app.
However, the RCS system is more advanced and better in terms of actions that it allows during chat in comparison with the regular SMS. It makes the sharing of pictures and videos easier and in better quality, shows the read receipts and now Google Messages is hopefully going to bring some more changes to make it even better than before.
Especially this end-to-end encryption feature in the RCS system on Google Messages is going to be a welcome change.
Encryption basically hides the contents of your conversations and chats from the app developers, law enforcement agencies, and phone manufacturers too. So, it provides more security to the users and that is one of the reasons why this feature was integrated into WhatsApp and iMessage a long time back. In fact, Google Messages also should have taken this step earlier, as that would have made it more popular.
However, it is better late than never!
It is not clear that when this feature will roll out and when will it be available for the users all around the world? But there are mentions of the integration of RCS with Google Fi also, and with some more future improvements, Google Messages will be backed up in the cloud as well.
Read next: Google Voice Users Will Soon Be Able To Transfer Ongoing Calls
This is wonderful news as it will make the Messaging system more secure and at par with iMessage and WhatsApp.
Every phone has a basic SMS system as its default messaging app. Google integrated the Rich Communication Services (RCS) to its Messages app for Android back at the end of 2019.
Now, this RCS messaging system for Google Messages had rolled out for the US, the UK, and some other regions. So, it can only be enabled in your device if your carrier supports it and if it is available in your country.
To use this feature, you have to enable Google Messages as your primary messaging app. Android One and Google’s Pixels enable it as the default app, but if it is not there in your device, then all you need to do is to first download the Messages app from the Play Store. Then go to the phone Settings, choose Apps and Notifications, and then click on Advanced. From there, you can click on Default Apps and then choose the SMS App. From there, the Messages app can be easily chosen as the default app for your device.
Once you start using Messages, you can enable the RCS messaging system, which basically converts normal text messages into a chat type system.
To enable the RCS messaging, you have to open the Messages app’s Settings by tapping in the three vertical dots in the upper-right corner. Then click on Chat Features and select Enable Chat Features. This will turn on the RCS messaging.
You can also explore different features that RCS enables by checking out its Settings and other options.
It requires a continuous Wi-Fi connection or mobile data connectivity to run through. If either of these connectivity systems is not available, then the device will turn back the normal SMS, MMS system as the default app.
However, the RCS system is more advanced and better in terms of actions that it allows during chat in comparison with the regular SMS. It makes the sharing of pictures and videos easier and in better quality, shows the read receipts and now Google Messages is hopefully going to bring some more changes to make it even better than before.
Especially this end-to-end encryption feature in the RCS system on Google Messages is going to be a welcome change.
Encryption basically hides the contents of your conversations and chats from the app developers, law enforcement agencies, and phone manufacturers too. So, it provides more security to the users and that is one of the reasons why this feature was integrated into WhatsApp and iMessage a long time back. In fact, Google Messages also should have taken this step earlier, as that would have made it more popular.
However, it is better late than never!
It is not clear that when this feature will roll out and when will it be available for the users all around the world? But there are mentions of the integration of RCS with Google Fi also, and with some more future improvements, Google Messages will be backed up in the cloud as well.
Read next: Google Voice Users Will Soon Be Able To Transfer Ongoing Calls
