Google RCS Messaging Now Available Worldwide – EndtoEnd Encryption Coming Soon
Google’s RCS (Rich Communication Services) messaging is now deployed worldwide. Integrated with Google’s Messages app, RCS brings new chat features as an upgrade over traditional SMS text messaging. It supports sending high quality photos and videos or chatting over Wi-Fi or data. Other basics like read receipts, share reactions, etc. are also included.
Along with a global rollout, Google is addressing one big concern about RCS-based messaging: privacy. The company said one-to-one RCS conversations between people using Messages will have end-to-end encryption. This is the same security encryption that WhatsApp offers their users. End-to-end encryption ensures that no one except the sender and recipient can read the contents of your messages.
End-to-end encryption will be rolled out for beta testers starting this month and will be extended to next year.
Your eligible conversations will automatically be upgraded to be end-to-end encrypted. End-to-end encryption is only available when you and the person you’re sending messages to have messaging and chat capabilities installed. To learn more about this feature, please visit our Help Center, Google said in a blog post.
Users can start accessing the latest features by updating the Messages app to the latest version. Those who do not yet have the app can also download the app and activate the chat features.
Note that the latest update is in addition to the existing functionality of Messages by Google. Some of the main features of the app include video calling, web messaging similar to WhatsApp web, smart reply, and built-in spam protection tools.
