July 22, 2021

Verizon said Tuesday that it would set up Messages by Google as the standard messaging software on all Android phones from 2022. This means that all three major U.S. carriers will use Google’s messaging app by default, effectively ensuring its adoption by a much wider audience of Android users.

This also means more support for the Rich Communications Service (RCS), a standard used by Google’s messaging app. RCS is designed to replace the more limited Short Messaging Service protocol and is intended for more contemporary users.

RCS enables users to send and receive high-resolution photos and videos, send text via Wi-Fi or mobile phone, see when a message has been read and backs up messages with true end-to-end encryption.

This move toward RCS in Android devices leaves Apple out as a major player in mobile devices. The iMessage app for iOS/iPadOS enables read receipts, end-to-end encryption and other benefits, but only for other iOS users.

For more information, read the original story in TechRepublic.