Samsung smartphones have been supporting Rich Communication Services (RCS) for the last couple of years.. With RCS, the stock Messages app on Android smartphones will work more like an instant messaging app. According to SamMobile, Samsung and Google are now working together to add RCS support to more Galaxy smartphones.
With this partnership, the Galaxy smartphones will get RCS messaging irrespective of carrier support. As of now, carriers have implemented the RCS messaging on smartphones. Back in October 2019, all the major US carriers came together to replace the SMS with the new RCS standard.
Galaxy smartphones to support RCS independent of carriers
The stock Messages app on the Galaxy smartphones will be getting the Google’s own RCS Chat service support. When Google rolls out its RCS service in a specific country, all the eligible Galaxy smartphones will be supporting RCS messages through the Messages app.
Google has already enabled RCS to all Android users in the U.S. But it requires Google’s Messages app to be the default SMS app.
Along with Google, Microsoft is the only other OS provider to support the RCS platform. Samsung also partnered with Microsoft to bring the RCS integration to the ‘Your Phone’ app on Windows 10.
As of now, only the Galaxy S20 users with ‘Your Phone Companion’ app can take advantage of RCS messaging on a Windows computer. With this integration, the users can seamlessly chat directly from their laptops.
RCS only works with default Messages app
Unlike WhatsApp or Apple iMessage, the features of the RCS messaging will differ by the region, handset and carrier.
Additionally, users need to use the default Messages app to make the RCS feature work on their smartphones. Unlike SMS which only works over cellular networks, the RCS also works on Wi-Fi.
AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon have formed the Cross-Carrier Messaging Initiative (CCMI) and will be releasing a new RCS-based Messaging App later this year.
This new app coming out later this year will be the default messaging app on all Android smartphones sold by these carriers.
With RCS, Google is finally offering an iMessage-like service for Android users. It will bring support for groups which is not possible through SMS. The users also get read receipts and typing indicators.
The user can also send images or videos even when they are on calls. In short, we can call the Rich Communication Services as future of messaging on Android.