SMS is one of those technologies that just won't be abandoned easily, no matter how outdated it seems in an age of instant messaging and apps. Instead of removing it completely, some are trying to build some rich new features on top of this technology. RCS (Rich Communications Services) practically belongs to this effort, which starting from the 14th of the month, is finally being adopted by one of its biggest supporters. This is Google , which is finally integrating RCS into Google Fi, provided that you have a compatible Android phone.
This news is significant less because of its nature and more because of the time it took for the company to adopt it. After all, Google is one of the companies that is aggressively promoting the adoption of RCS on networks and phones. So it's almost ironic that it took so long to get its own MVNO network for Google Fi.
RCS is Apple's iMessage that non-Apple users dream of, except that in theory, it's less dependent on the type of device you have. It does, however, depend on the network that allows the service. With RCS on Google Fi, you'll be able to share videos, see your typing and read notifications, integrate maps, and do things you can't do with regular SMS.
Google Fi RCS will be automatically enabled if you're using a phone designed for Fi. That means the Pixel 2 and 3, Moto G6, LG G7 ThinQ and V35 ThinQ, and Moto X4 Android One are all compatible. There are also compatible Android phones, though you'll need to first install the Android Messages app, set it as your default messaging app, and then accept the prompt to enable the service.
While Google Fi is already enabling RCS today, announcing future expansions in the coming weeks. Specifically, it will improve 4G LTE coverage in 33 countries, including Hong Kong, Germany, Monaco, Spain, and the United Kingdom, among others.
