You may have seen a pop-up on late-model Android phones asking you to swap to RCS messaging. Google could have better explained what this means and why you should swap over.
RCS messaging stands for Rich Communication Services. It allows for more types of content, high-res photos/videos (up to 100MB), end-to-end encryption, read receipts, and knowing when the recipient is typing a response. You can also use it for voice and group chats.
In other words, it does everything SMS does and more with no downsides.
If you use Google’s standard Messages App, open it and look at the top left for an icon with a stick figures head and shoulders or … (press that to access your profile).
Note: RCS is only applicable to Google Messages App. It won’t work on other messaging Apps.
Standard SMS/MMS uses the P2P (person-to-person) channel of the public switched 4/5G telephone network. That is becoming clogged with robocall spam and scam SMS. RCS uses the internet or mobile data to go to your Telco carrier (Telstra, Optus and Vodafone support it), which uses the internet to send to the recipient’s Telco carrier, and the ‘last mile’ is via internet or mobile data. If the recipient cannot receive it, an SMS is sent.
In many respects, it is like Apple’s iMessage but based on open standards. WhatsApp also does a similar thing.
This should circumvent the growing trend by some countries to block SMS messages from international numbers. Read Australia to UK SMS blocked.
Your message is end-to-end encrypted. It can only be read by the recipient or law enforcement with a court order. SMS has no encryption.
Google does check your contacts to see if they are RCS compatible before sending.
If an RCS is sent over Wi-Fi, there is no charge. Normal plan costs apply if it is sent over mobile data (and you can stop this).
And if your phone is not compatible, it will show the status when you try to turn on RCS.
Businesses will be able to send you much more immersive messages with clickable links, embedded videos, booking confirmations, click-to-pay, and much more.
As we said, Google et al. did not do enough to explain the switch. We have been using it for a few months, and data charges are negligible (as we turn off roaming).
Please give it a go. If it does not work for you, switching off and reverting to SMS/MMS is simple.
 

 
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