Original topic:

Google finally offering RCS without dealing with carriers

(Topic created on: 06-19-2019 09:07 AM)
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SnowCat19
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Galaxy S

Google does a lot of things well. Services and products like Search, Android, or Chrome are examples of how Google has taken an idea from a meeting room and put it into everyone's hands and things were made better because of them. 

Messaging is not one of the areas where Google has found the right answer, though. That's not to say the company doesn't have the right idea — rich chat services complete with media and all the flair people want for free — it just hasn't been able to find the one way to offer the total package.

 

First of all, what is RCS?

RCS Stands for Rich Communication Services and the best way to desxcribe it is to say it can make regualr texting more like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. 

If you've ever used something like Bell's Messages, you're using RCS. You can also have an RCS chat using Android Messages, and that's what Google is doing here. It's rolling out RCS within Android Messages, with an opt-in feature allowing users to make the switch to RCS Chat. 

 

Google doing RCS on its own is a good thing for the most part. The way the company is doing it should fend off any further antitrust lawsuits because you can opt-in once it becomes available and if your carrier provides RCS services, it is the company that handles the messaging. All a user will know is that they agreed to let Google handle their messages (RCS texts have to go through a central server sometimes) and when they are chatting with someone else who has a phone that's RCS capable everything looks and feels like WhatsApp.

 

This is different from other rich messaging platforms we've seen or used. You're not required to use a specific phone or specific brand, and you aren't limited to only chatting with people using the same phone carrier as you. You send messages the same way you always have, but some will support more features.  

 

This is Google's ninth attempt at a messaging solution, so fingers crossed RCS Chat is the one that finally works. 

 

 

2 Comments
Habsfan
Expert Level 2
Galaxy S
I believe they are only rolling this out to certain countries and as of right now Canada is not one of them
Galaxy S

That is correct because once again.....Canada

however I really, strongly believe Google will implment this in Canada....they just have to work with CRTC....

and that is what will take the longest because just like AGLC or the AGCO, or the LCRB, they are like the Mafia, they run things in this country lol

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