I’ve found that my circle of contacts use the default messaging app for group chats even more now. I couldn’t get them to use Signal but at least they’re posting in the RCS group chat more instead of on Meta platforms.
Just like before, I will keep it disabled.
I can’t use it between Android and iOS because I don’t have Google Play Services and RCS requires Google Play Services and Google Messenger on Android to work. No third party app can use it.
Open platform my ass. Most carriers just use Google’s servers for it.
They should’ve worked to use xmpp or matrix as their replacement for SMS, but they chose an alternative that let’s corpos run servers and not anyone else.
Fucking garbage technology.
Does iOS use RCS everywhere, or only if your and/or the recipient’s phone carrier are specifically supported?
It’s nice that Androids can finally send me high quality images and participate in group chats without as much jank. Still not as good as an iMessage group but a lot more bearable.
Better than SMS I suppose but still pointless for my needs. No encryption = no usage from me
The carrier has to support it which is a red flag for me since they have to archive metadata and the contents.
This’ll be a hot take but anything based on Signal’s protocol (including WhatsApp) is better than RCS in all ways.
The people I know with ios still haven’t figured it out.
You can use Signal between Android and.iOS, i know this as I (android user) use it all the time to msg contacts using Signal on their iphone, don’t use RCS ffs.
Now its not just the carriers now get your texts unencrypted, apple and google do too.
Use matrix, XMPP, or simpleX if you want something private.
Alternarive to SMS maybe. No alternative to chat apps, because carrier-controlled.
Any FOSS apps on Android that support it? Even Google Voice (which I use for work) doesn’t seem to support it. I still get messages like “so and so reacted to your message”.
I don’t think I can use it on my phone since it’s too old…
I waited years for it, but now that everyone is on Signal it doesn’t excite me.
everyone is on Signal
Where? I‘ve Signal installed and literally only 2 contacts use it.
I have a feeling most people click the maximum privacy “hide from contacts” option at the start, probably not thinking it through. And that means you wouldn’t be able to see them. You can try searching manually as that sometimes seems to find them.
That said, when I asked people who texted me “do you have Signal?” I think about 50% said yes and the other 50% were able to download it without issue.
People are downloading a messaging app for you?
I wish I was you. Here no one wants to download a second messaging app just to chat with one person. Why would they? Everyone is on WhatsApp. No one cares about privacy and that the app is owned by Meta (Facebook).
I’ve never even heard of signal
That’s awesome, now you know!
AFAIK there’s no free as in freedom implementation and only works with propriety apps and I read google messages refuses to use RCS on rooted/unofficial systems. So that’s a big no.
Another big problem is, people who don’t have mobile internet and unknowingly have it enabled (aka most people who still use SMS) won’t get the message until they connect to WiFi or some time passes.
