Discovered over a year ago, Google’s RCS (Rich Communication Services), which is essentially the firm’s answer to provide iMessage features to android without using third-party apps like Whatsapp, has never been officially announced and continues to silently be available for users across the globe.
Kenyans can now use RCS features as most users are reporting that they are getting access to the previously “not available” features.
Before, to activate the feature, Kenyans needed a third-party launcher. However, after updating the Google messages app from the Playstore, Users are getting a simple toggle to turn on Chat features.
You can check if your device is connected to RCS Chat by heading to Setting > Chat features on the Google Messages app.
The RCS protocol allows users to send and receive messages over a Wi-Fi network or mobile data. With traditional SMS services, users could only receive messages through their cellular networks.
Google has been working with businesses to add helpful features to Chat to improve communications, like branded informational messaging and sharing content like images, video clips, and gifs, or sending live updates about upcoming trips and boarding passes, and perhaps even allowing customers to select airline seats from within Android Messages.
However, RCS does not offer end-to-end encryption like iMessage or WhatsApp. Rather, it retains the same legal intercept standards as its SMS predecessor.
