RCS, or Rich Communication Services, is a messaging protocol with its origins dating back to 2007. Initially developed by a group of individuals, it later came under the oversight of the GSMA (GSM Association). Google has been actively promoting this protocol, often positioning it as a potential replacement for iMessage. This is a strategic move from both Google and a user-friendly perspective since iMessage still relies on the older and less secure SMS protocol, contributing to the well-known Blue/Green bubbles controversy. So, what exactly is RCS, and could it be the next evolution in communication? Let’s address these questions in this article.
Understanding RCS
RCS, short for Rich Communication Services, is a messaging protocol designed to supplant the older SMS/MMS protocol. In contrast to SMS/MMS, which imposes character and media size limitations and operates solely on carrier networks, RCS eliminates character limits and facilitates the transmission of various types of media in high quality.
Google introduced initial support for RCS in Android in 2019, labeling it “Chat.” Since then, it has gained significant popularity, with both Google and Samsung incorporating it into their respective messaging platforms – Google Messages and Samsung Chat. There are numerous compelling reasons to use RCS over SMS, including the capability to send high-quality text messages, receive read receipts, and share various media types over mobile data or Wi-Fi. Additionally, there’s end-to-end encryption in the case of Chat in Google Messages, among other benefits compared to SMS.
How RCS Work?
As previously mentioned, RCS is more of a technical term. A friendlier name that Google gave it is the “Chat Protocol.” In many ways, it’s similar to WhatsApp, with the key difference being that it’s associated with your carrier. Consequently, carrier companies must enable support for RCS (Chat) for users to send text messages via Wi-Fi and mobile data. Initially, Google aimed to have phone manufacturers integrate RCS into their platforms, but when most of them were unwilling to do so, Google decided to incorporate RCS into its own messaging platform, “Google Messages.”
Another important point to note is that Chat can only send messages over mobile data or Wi-Fi if the recipient is also using Chat. If the recipient is not using Chat, your message will be sent as an SMS. The messaging app will inform you before sending the message whether the recipient is using an Android device with RCS enabled, and it will display “RCS message” in the input placeholder in the textbox. It’s also important to mention that Google encrypts RCS messages in Google Messages, but RCS, by default, doesn’t include end-to-end encryption.
Enabling RCS
Enabling RCS is a straightforward process. To enable RCS, you’ll need a carrier that supports it and an Android device running Android 5.0 or later. Once you meet these requirements, follow these steps:
1. If you haven’t already, install Google Messages.
2. To check if your carrier supports RCS, open the app, tap your profile picture in the top right corner, and go to settings.
3. Tap “RCS Chats,” and if the status shows “Connected,” it means your carrier supports RCS, and you can enjoy enhanced messaging features on the network.
It’s important to note that you cannot use RCS without a SIM card in your device. While RCS can utilize Wi-Fi and mobile data for messaging, it still relies on having a mobile network connection to function properly.
With that in mind, here’s an image displaying all the carriers currently offering RCS support.
The Future of RCS Messaging
Despite its continuous efforts, Google has been unsuccessful in convincing Apple to embrace the RCS protocol and put an end to the age-old debate of green versus blue bubbles. RCS-enabled messages are displayed in green, while iMessages, which still use the older SMS protocol, appear in blue within the iMessage app. This distinction has led to the iPhone’s blue bubble versus Android’s green bubble controversy.
From a business perspective, it’s understandable why Apple hasn’t shown interest in resolving the bubble controversy, as it aids in enticing Android users to switch to the iPhone, ultimately increasing their revenue. In contrast to the Western market, where iOS and iMessage are widely used, messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook Messenger are dominant in regions such as Asia and Europe.
These circumstances leave the tech industry in a somewhat uncertain situation. While Google showcased impressive adoption numbers during I/O 2021, with over 800 million RCS users, it still lags behind WhatsApp with over 2 billion users and iMessage with 1.3 billion users in 2022, as projected by Juniper Research. It’s clear that Google needs a significant boost for RCS, which could potentially come from Apple. However, despite Google’s efforts and the apparent dissatisfaction of Android users, Apple has yet to make a move.
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