Many Google Messages customers have been complaining about not being able to send or receive Rich Communication Services (RCS) messages, and this might be because the responsibility now falls on carriers.
RCS is a modern messaging standard that allows for a more interactive and secure communication experience than SMS and MMS. RCS can be provided by Google or a carrier.
Google enables RCS through its Jibe platform, and carriers maintain their own RCS servers. Lately, Google has been informing Google Messages users that RCS messages are now provided by their wireless carriers. This shift means RCS availability now depends entirely on carriers. Since not all carriers, especially those outside the US and Europe, support RCS, some users have found themselves without the service.
Google Messages now requires carriers to provide RCS support. | Image Credit - Reddit user CrashX
As Android Authority notes, the problem appears to predominantly affect users in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Kenya. Carriers in these countries may not see much value in RCS implementation, so Google's decision has left users in the lurch.
Google Messages has stopped supporting RCS in some regions. | Image Credit - Reddit user apha1dc
Since Google appears to have withdrawn Jibe support, RCS messaging can only be restored by their respective carriers for affected users.
Is RCS working for you in Google Messages?
Yes.
74.51%
No.
9.8%
It works most of the time.
13.73%
It works sometimes.
1.96%
Google has been a strong proponent of RCS and even coaxed Apple into adopting it. Thus, it's out of character for Google Messages to hand off the responsibility of RCS implementation to telecom companies.
Many Google Messages users say they are getting a "carrier not supported" notice. The issue cropped up after a Google Messages update, and Google’s product experts have said that it won't go away until carriers take action. Further complicating matters is the fact that carriers are blaming the problem on Google.
Users have no clarity on who withdrew RCS support.
Some users in the US have also been having trouble with RCS messaging, indicating something has gone awry.
RCS is one of the main reasons to use Google Messages, and while Google may have its reasons for offloading the task to carriers, it should actively work with them to ensure support instead of leaving users at their mercy.
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Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.
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