Google's List of carriers that support RCS messaging expands

By Chris Burns/Feb. 24, 2017 12:26 pm EST

Google announced today that they were one step closer to "delivering RCS messaging to Android users worldwide." To this end, they've tapped into partnerships with Orange, Deutsche Telekom (parent company of T-Mobile), and Globe. These companies are officially "committed to launching RCS messaging powered by the Jibe RCS cloud from Google and will be preloading Android Messages as the standard native messaging app for their subscribers."

On a similar note, Android Messages is simply a rebranding of the app previously called Messenger (for Android). Android Messages works with RCS messaging with carriers who use Jibe RCS cloud. The full list of brands that work with Google's Jibe for RCS messaging is as follows:

Carriers supporting RCS with Google's Jibe Mobile:

• Orange

• Deutsche Telekom

• Globe

• Sprint

• Rogers

• Telenor

Manufacturers that load Android Messages for RCS:

• LG

• Motorola

• Sony

• HTC

• Google (HTC-manufactured Pixel)

• Android One (Google program, multiple manufacturers)

• ZTE

• Micromax

• HMD Global (makers of Nokia-brand phones)

• Archos

• BQ

• Cherry Mobile

• Condor

• Fly

• General Mobile

• Lanix

• LeEco

• Lava

• Kyocera

• MyPhone

• QMobile

• Symphony

• Wiko

The Android Messages app works with support for RCS, SMS, and MMS. This means that it's already able to support a wide variety of messages from all manner of smartphones around the world. A number of brands have partnered with Google to bring RCS messaging to the world via their own unique apps.

BUT DON'T FORGET: Google's RCS messaging will never work without Verizon

Brands using RCS messaging via partnership with Google:

• Virgin Trains

• Walgreens

• Amber Alert Europe

• Baskin-Robbins

• BlaBlaCar

• FICO

• Gamestop

• G2A.com

• IHG

• LexisNexis Risk Solutions

• Naturas

• Papa Murphy's

• Philips

• Porto Seguro

• Sky

• SONIC Drive-In

• Subway

• Time Inc

"Today, we're taking a significant step toward making RCS messaging universally available to users across the world with 27 carriers and device manufacturers launching RCS to Android users with Google." said Amir Sarhangi, Head of RCS.

"We want to make sure that Android users can access all the features that RCS messaging offers, like group chat, high-res photo sharing, read receipts, and more. So we're working with mobile device manufacturers to make Android Messages the default messaging app for Android devices."