New user here. I decided to switch from iOS to Android and settled on Samsung for my needs. I recently got an S25 and Tab S11 Ultra, and the transition has been good (the hardware is great and there's a lot to like about the ecosystem), except when it comes to messaging, as I can't for the life of me get RCS working in Google Messages, which Samsung seems adamant for us to use, as it is the default messaging app on their latest devices.
Basically, Google Messages has been stuck for days on 'Connecting...' to verify my cell number for RCS. I already spent many hours scavenging the Web for help about this, watched YT videos, called Bell Mobility to confirm the feature is active on my line, tried countless times to apply the supposed fixes (force stop apps, clear caches, clear data, reboot with airplane mode on, uninstall Google Messages updates, install Carrier Settings from the Play Store, trying all of the former again, etc.). No luck and the feedback provided by Google Messages is nil. Why is this happening? What can I do to help fix this? I've seen online comments suggesting that going to a carrier's store to have the eSIM reset "might" help. I mean, is this a joke?
Now, why am I posting this here... Well, I partially blame Samsung for this issue. Nowadays, buying a new (especially premium) phone comes with some basic and legitimate expectations, like making and receiving phone calls as well as some form of built-in rich messaging. Since Samsung is pretty much forcing Google Messages on us, I would argue they had pretty well made sure the experience is frictionless, which doesn't seem to be the case for all users. And now that Samsung Messages has dropped RCS, well, we're pretty much stuck with Google Messages, which, well, is bad.
Short of switching carriers to see if that helps (sarcasm), I'm no quite sure what to do at this stage. Any pointers?
I'm stil in my 30-day return window for the S25 and I'm on the fence about sending it back.
