Finally, Google is responding to Apple's iMessage application with a new service that competes with Android users in the United States, which will be circulated instead of the traditional SMS messaging application, according to a new report.
This new messaging service is called “Chat”. It is based on the RCS or Rich Communications Services standard that is enabled through an Internet connection, and carries a number of additions to the poorly developed SMS text messaging standard.
RCS technology
An acronym for Rich Communications Services, it is a new standard that has been adopted by the GSMA, the association responsible for setting communication standards for operating networks and mobile phones. RCS can be considered as the new generation of SMS and MMS services, i.e. the generation that keeps pace with the requirements of the times, as this standard provides all the basic features offered by popular chatting applications, as it offers a set of features, including:
- Share photos and videos
- Send emojis
- Group chat
- Voice and video calls
- Share your geographic location
- Knowing the status of messages (received, read, etc.)
- Knowing whether or not the other person is writing.
- Interact with messages with or without like, exclamation, or reply with emojis.
The difference between RCS and WhatsApp, for example, is that communication via RCS only requires an application that supports RCS technology, and then it can be the default messaging application that comes with any phone. Just like you use SMS, with the difference that you can send pictures, videos, and other interactions.
Thus, Android users will have those features that were and still are available on the iOS operating system several years ago. They are text, pictures, or videos that are sent to another over Wi-Fi or cellular data network. It is assumed that these messages are always encrypted as in iOS and appear in a blue text dialog box, as well as you can write by hand, and add the festive atmosphere to the messages such as adding balloons, paper clips and fireworks, as well as you can interact with messages with likes, dislikes, exclamation mark or exclamation. And much more.
And just like iMessage, users can also opt out of the service if they want.
When will the new messaging service be applied and how to activate it?
Google began rolling out the new feature gradually to US users last month. But as of last Thursday, it should now be available to all Android users.
Google's product manager, Sanaz Ahari, tweeted last week and said that users can get the new chat service by updating both the Android messaging app and Carrier Services or network services. And users will only be able to use the chat to communicate with people using Samsung Messages or Sprint and US Cellular customers.
Google previously stated that it would like to work with any telecom company that adopts this technology. And companies like AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile have already announced a new initiative in October to bring the RCS standard across carriers to their customers.
Is it possible to chat with iPhone users?
As for whether Android users will be able to use chat to send text messages to their iPhone friends, this is not clear. Because iPhones do not currently support the RCS standard. Apple declined to comment on whether it plans to adopt this standard in the future. Apple's iMessage standard is still superior to RCS.
And unlike iMessage, WhatsApp and other secure messaging systems, Google's new chat service is not end-to-end encrypted and this means that technically Google can see the messages sent by the user and can easily deliver their contents to third parties, legal or rather advertising. This may be a source of concern for all advocates of privacy and security, and many may be reluctant to use it if they find people crowding their chats with various advertisements.
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