November was a big month for RCS, the Google-backed mobile messaging protocol, and the company is now capping it off with a milestone announcement. And some festive new features. First, the numbers. According to Google, over 1 billion monthly active users use his RCS in Google Messages. This is a huge deal considering the lack of support just a few years ago. Overall This is surprising since it has been the default messaging service on Android smartphones for several years now.
Some of the new messaging features may look familiar to iOS users. There’s a new feature that lets you create a contact poster-like profile that includes your name and photo by connecting it to your Google Account. Google adds something called Photomoji. This allows you to cut out a person from a photo and use that photo to react to a message, just like an emoji.
Apple offers a similar feature in iOS 17, but you’ll need to convert your photo cutouts to stickers to add them to your iMessage conversations. Based on a very scientific study of people like 5 of my friends, this isn’t going to catch on quickly.
Google Messages also lets you attach emojis, which Google calls “moods,” when you send voice messages. This is a good way to help someone understand the gist of your message at a glance. Emojis shared in group chats or used as reactions may include animations. And in a little nod to the whole green bubble vs. blue bubble situation, Google Messages now lets you change the color of your chat bubbles for each conversation.
I spoke to Sanaz Ahari, VP and GM of Android Messaging, about the new features and the general positioning of RCS. Of course, this means asking about Apple. There’s good reason to be excited about RCS on iPhone. Because, as Ahari aptly puts it, “Group chat is really, really broken between Android and iOS right now.” Apple’s commitment to supporting RCS Universal Profile 2.0 means that the platform Although it means much improved image and video sharing between users, Ahari acknowledged that the 2.0 specification does not include end-to-end encryption.
“We are actively working with the GSMA, and Apple is a member of the GSMA. We are evolving the specification to include not only end-to-end encryption, but many features not found in the RCS specification. Threaded replies, read receipts, and reactions are some of the features that iPhone users are unlikely to support as standards currently exist. “Overall, what we want is for modern messaging capabilities and end-to-end encryption to become a real cross-platform reality.”
That’s still a long way off, but in the meantime, Google’s new messaging features will trickle out to RCS users on Android smartphones. Today’s additions also include convenient smart home integration with Wear OS, allowing you to set your Google Home status, trigger groups of lights, and start routines from your watch. Masu. It’s all rolling out starting today, with new messaging features debuting first. open beta.