Google’s Messages to Be Made Default App on Android Devices by Verizon Starting 2022
Google's Messages comes with features similar to those in iMessage, using Rich Communication Services (RCS) to replace SMS-based texts.
Advertisement
Highlights
- Apple's iMessage is limited to users who use the company's devices
- With RCS, users can send and receive high-quality photos
- Apple has not yet indicated plans to extend the feature to Android users
Verizon would join peers AT&T and T-Mobile US in propping up competition to Apple's iMessage service
Verizon Communications will make Google's Messages the default messaging app on all Android devices it sells starting next year, the US wireless carrier said on Tuesday.
With that move, Verizon would join peers AT&T and T-Mobile US in propping up competition to Apple's iMessage service.
Alphabet-owned Google's Messages comes with features similar to those in iMessage, using Rich Communication Services (RCS) technology to replace SMS-based texts.
Apple's iMessage is limited to users who use the company's devices, and the iPhone maker has not yet indicated any plans to extend the feature to Android users.
With RCS, users can send and receive high-quality photos and videos, chat over WiFi or cellular data and know when messages were read, among other features.
Advertisement
Earlier this year, AT&T and T-Mobile announced they would make Google's messaging app as the default one on all their Android devices.
"Customers using Verizon's Message+ app will also get full access to RCS capabilities by the end of the year," Verizon said in a statement.
Advertisement
© Thomson Reuters 2021
The recently-concluded first season of Loki is our focus this week on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.
For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.
Advertisement