Rich Communications Services for better Android messaging

If you own an iPhone, you know how convenient it is to use iMessage as a common messaging platform for iOS devices, even a Mac. For Android, you’d have to resort to third-party apps for online messaging or else, you only have Short Message Service or SMS. But, that’ll change soon.

Google will bring an enhanced, native messaging service to more Android devices. They just announced that 27 more carriers and manufacturers, including local telcos Globe and Smart, and local OEMs Cherry Mobile and MyPhone, have signed on as partners for Rich Communications Services (RCS).

RCS is an initiative to add dynamic features like group chat, high-res photosharing, read receipts and typing indicators as defaults to the Android Messages (formerly Messenger) chat app. This means that signed partners will pre-load Android Messages to their future devices, replacing the basic messaging app.

What would this mean for Android users? Well, if things go well, users will have a better messaging experience like receiving alerts instantly, interactive messages, and also the ability to send a message to other Android users without the need to jump to another app. If you can recall, Google also has over-the-top messaging apps like Allo and Duo.

Google said that it will be showing off examples of RCS messaging at Mobile World Congress next week.

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