Pixel 4 units on Google Fi gain support for RCS and Dual SIM Dual Standby

Rich Communication Service (RCS) is the next generation of wireless messaging. Instead of using a carrier's cellular connection as SMS/Text does, RCS relies on a data connection or Wi-Fi. As a result, each message can contain as many as 8,000 characters compared to the 160 that each text message is capped at. In addition, larger and higher-quality video files can be shared using RCS, and users get a receipt when the recipient of a message has read it. Larger group messaging can take place with RCS as up to 100 participants can chat together at the same time.

Late last month, we passed along a trick discovered by some Redditors that allowed those with an Android phone to enable RCS on their devices. That came one day after the four major U.S. carriers agreed to form the Cross Carrier Messaging Initiative (CCMI) which is expected to have RCS widely available in the states by next year. Remember, for users to take advantage of the features available with RCS, all participants in a chat must be using it.

While the Pixel 3 line was able to get RCS via Verizon, the nation's largest carrier decided not to offer the same for the Pixel 4 (possibly because of the CCMI development). However, a tweet disseminated yesterday by Sanaz Ahari, the Senior Director of Product & Design at Google (via Android Central), indicated that Pixel 4 users on Google's Fi MVNO should now have RCS. Of course, this would only work if the carriers used by Fi support RCS. Since Sprint does support RCS and is one of Fi's cellular partners, it makes sense for the MVNO to make this available.

Ahari's tweet also pointed out that the Google Fi version of the Pixel 4 now supports Dual SIM Dual Standby (DSDS). This allows a Pixel 4 user to use both the physical SIM slot and the eSIM function on the phone. Pixel 4 users will be able to take calls over one carrier network while using the other carrier network for SMS/Text and data. With this feature, a Pixel 4 handset on Fi can be set up to receive personal calls using one number and business calls on the other number.