Google rolls out RCS functionality for 'messages' apps almost worldwide, with end-to-end encryption planned



Rich Communication Services (RCS) is a high-performance instant messaging standard that aims to replace Short Message Services (SMS) . RCS is also implemented as a chat function in Google's official messaging app ' Messages ', and on November 19, 2020, Google announced that it 'deployed the RCS function of messages almost all over the world.' Google also plans to encrypt one-to-one RCS interactions end-to-end.

Helping you connect around the world with Messages
https://blog.google/products/messages/helping-you-connect-around-world-messages/



Google is rolling out end-to-end encryption for RCS in Android Messages beta --The Verge

https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/19/21574451/android-rcs-encryption-message-end-to-end-beta

RCS can not only send and receive messages with read notifications, but also group chats, voice message exchanges, voice / video calls, large file size images and videos, content sharing, screen sharing, etc. Standard. RCS has long been an alternative to SMS, but it is difficult to replace SMS, which is already widely used, and it is not very popular because communication carriers were not so aggressive.

Therefore, from 2019, Google decided to support RCS with the official messaging app 'Messages' and provide RCS services to Android users. Google has been steadily expanding its reach, with the service being launched in the United Kingdom in June 2019 and in the United States in November 2019.

Google launches 'RCS' for all Android users in the US --ITmedia NEWS
https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1911/15/news050.html



And on November 19, 2020, Google announced on its official blog that 'RCS support for messaging apps has been rolled out almost worldwide.' Although deployment has not been completed in some countries such as China, Russia, and North Korea, this will make it easier for many Android users to use RCS.

Google also announced that it will end-to-end encrypt the content of one-on-one chats to enhance the security of RCS communication on messages. The message will be upgraded automatically for beta testers who have participated in the message beta test program since November 2020.

If end-to-end encryption is implemented, each conversation will not be readable by both carriers and Google, which is a big improvement in terms of privacy. In addition, end-to-end encryption seems to be available when both senders and receivers of the message have the message installed and the chat function is turned on.



RCS-enabled messaging services were available in different countries before they were supported by Google's messages, but RCS remains less well known. In Japan, ' + Message ' was provided by NTT DoCoMo, KDDI, and Softbank in 2018, and Rakuten Mobile also provides a service called ' Rakuten Link ', but domestic carriers such as Y! Mobile and MVNO , There was a problem that it could not be used with overseas communication carriers.

In the past, using the beta version of the messaging app, loopholes were found that even users of carriers who do not support RCS can use RCS, but it is believed that it is not the operation intended by Google.

Enable RCS in Messages on any Android phone and carrier --9to5Google
https://9to5google.com/2019/10/26/enable-rcs-android-messages/

RCS can be used even with a cheap SIM. Beta version of Android Messages – Dream Seed.
https://www.dream-seed.com/weblog/android-message-rcs/

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in Mobile,   Software,   Web Service, Posted by log1h_ik