Rich Communication Services, or RCS, is a communication protocol between mobile telephone carriers and between phone and carrier.
With the aim to replace SMS messages with a "richer" text messaging system, RCS provides a lot more features than that on its old and traditional SMS counterpart, including the ability to send and receive media files and more.
This time, Google's rollout off its RCS-based 'chat' in the Messages app has been completed.
Google's RCS-based messaging system is based on the Universal Profile RCS standard (courtesy of its Jibe acquisition).
By adding some extras, like read receipts, better group chats, typing indicators, higher-quality media, and more, Google wants to roll out the more modern messaging system, when carriers initially botched.
Google that decided to circumvent their dithering, finally delivers its years-long promise of a better, universal messaging standard on Android, in the face or carriers that failed to fulfill their consumers' interest.
Read: Google Wants To Fix Its Messaging Mess Using RCS: Changing The Rules
According to Google:
Google claims that its RCS-based messaging has been rolling out worldwide. Google is making it available to Android users everywhere through its Messages app.
Essentially, this is a universal solution.
Customers using incompatible carriers can connect directly to Google's Jibe for RCS messaging, and those on carriers that are compatible with the Universal Profile standard can still use the same app to connect to their carrier's servers. What this means, whether carriers support it or not, users can send RCS messages in courtesy of the Google app.
This should be a good thing, considering that Android has around 70% - 80% or the world's smartphone market share.
This makes Google, almost single-handedly, responsible for rolling out the feature to the world.
The bad thing is that, Apple at this time doesn't support RCS.
Many hoped that Apple might someday support RCS messaging, since it has been the GSM Association requirements regarding 5G standards. Apple was reportedly "in discussions" to support RCS in 2019. But still, when Apple launched iPhone 12 series with 5G, the devices don't support RCS.
The good thing here is that, the RCS and the Universal Profile are open standards, meaning that Apple could implement the technology at any time.
But before that happens, Apple without RCS support and without bringing its iMessage to Android, means that messaging through carriers between Android and iOS devices will still fall back to the traditional SMS.
RCS on Android may not be the 'iMessage for Android' many people hoped it might be. Most certainly, this is because Apple is standing in the way, holding things back.
So in the meantime, those who wish to use RCS, have to use Android phones.
And for those who wish to experience an even better messaging, they can join the RCS end-to-end encryption beta program.
Users of Android on carriers that support RCS, can join the beta program. Once accepted, their one-on-one conversation will get a massive boost in security.