RCS - SlashGear

T-Mobile announces bigger investment in Google services, Pixel phones

JC Torres | Mar 29, 2021

Although all US carriers now offer Android phones on their shelves, T-Mobile has a distinct place in Android history. It is the carrier to actually put its faith in the still-nascent smartphone platform with the T-Mobile G1, a.k.a the HTC Dream. Now it is renewing that close ties not just with Android but with Google's entire ecosystem by betting on some of the tech giant's services, even at the expense of one of its own.

RCS standard now global – here’s what that means for you

Chris Burns | Nov 19, 2020

Today we're taking a peek at Rich Communication Services (RCS) and what it means for you as it's reached global coverage. RCS is an open standard for messaging services on mobile devices that works with your data connection rather than your cellular connection. RCS chat features upgrade the abilities of SMS text messaging to take advantage of the abilities of smart devices and mobile data connectivity - and it's ready to roll now, around the world.

Google teams with T-Mobile USA for global RCS messaging

Chris Burns | May 26, 2020

T-Mobile USA introduced RCS (rich messaging) to T-Mobile users back in the year 2015 for their USA-based network. Here in 2020, T-Mobile USA and Google teamed up to expand T-Mobile users' ability to work with RCS "when texting with Android users on other networks across the globe." This system will be interesting to see expand, as it requires a smartphone that supports RSC Universal Profile 1.0 while the person receiving messages to have the official Google Messages app.

Google Messages rolls out emoji reactions in RCS-only chats

Ewdison Then | May 14, 2020

For years, Apple's iMessage has been regarded as the gold standard for instant messaging experiences, or at least after BlackBerry Messenger or BBM lost its grandeur. For years, Android users have been longing to have that same native messaging experience or even have iMessage itself on Android, and the new Rich Communication Services or RCS is believed to be a step in that direction. It still has a long way to go, though, especially when it comes to adoption, but it is slowly growing its features to match modern chat services, like this new "iMessage-style" emoji reactions.

Windows 10 RCS messaging is coming – but with a Samsung-sized catch

Eric Abent | Feb 17, 2020

A couple of years ago, Microsoft rolled out an app for Windows 10 called Your Phone. Aiming for deeper integration between PCs and smartphones in a post-Windows Phone age, Your Phone has seen a lot of features added to it since it was first introduced. An upcoming feature may very well one of the biggest yet: Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging.

RCS activated for all Android phones in USA

Chris Burns | Dec 13, 2019

As of this week, the RCS chat protocol was activated for Android devices in the USA. This means that when you've got the official Google Messages app and the latest version of Carrier Services, you'll have a slightly more advanced version of SMS TXT messaging on your hands.

Google just enabled Android RCS SMS+ chat in the USA

Chris Burns | Nov 14, 2019

Users will soon get a more comprehensive and "rich" experience in SMS text messaging in Android. This is thanks to Google's push for RCS (Rich Communication Services) in SMS text messaging over the past few years, enabled here in the USA in late 2019. To enable this newly-enabled more powerful chat system, users will need the official SMS text messaging client from Google called Messages - which can be downloaded as the Messages app in the Google Play app store.