Hei Mi Fans & MIUI-ers,
What have we here? I went thru the Bug reports and bump into an irrelevant report regarding the trending SMS messaging appearing in the battery usage. So I thought it a good topic to discuss about this week and why it showed up on your phone.
Whether we’re receiving a boarding pass for a flight or chatting with friends and family, SMS (better known as text messaging) is a universal way for us to stay connected. But despite its ubiquity, SMS hasn’t evolved to take advantage of all the features that smartphones enable today. Google believe it’s important to innovate in messaging standards, so they have been working with the mobile industry on an initiative to upgrade SMS through a universal standard called RCS (Rich Communications Services), bringing more enhanced features to the standard messaging experience on mobile devices.
So what is RCS exactly?
Short for Rich Communication Services (alternatively known as Advanced Messaging), RCS is a next-generation SMS messaging protocol. It allows users to take advantage of a number of features that were previously exclusive to over-the-top messaging apps like WhatsApp and iMessage.
For instance, when messaging a friend or family member, RCS users will see typing indicators and read receipts (it’s possible to turn both these features off in the Android Messages preferences menu). RCS also enables proper group chat, as well as allows users to send high-resolution images and videos.
Moreover, unlike SMS messages, RCS are messages are sent via the user’s data connection or a nearby Wi-Fi link.
Upgrading the default messaging experience for Android.
Google want to make sure that Android users can access all the features that RCS messaging offers, like group chat, high-res photo sharing, read receipts, and more.
So they are working with mobile device manufacturers to make Android Messages the default messaging app for Android devices. Mobile device brands LG, Motorola, Sony, HTC, ZTE, Micromax, HMD Global - Home of Nokia Phones, Archos, BQ, Cherry Mobile, Condor, Fly, General Mobile, Lanix, LeEco, Lava, Kyocera, MyPhone, QMobile, Symphony and Wiko, along with Pixel and Android One devices, will preload Android Messages as the default messaging app on their devices. With these partners, they are upgrading the messaging experience for Android users worldwide and ensuring a consistent and familiar experience for users. We’ll continue to add more partners over time.
Improving business messaging with RCS.
Currently millions of businesses, service providers, and brands use SMS to communicate with their customers, whether they’re sending a bank fraud alert or package delivery notification. But while SMS provides a universal way for consumers to connect with businesses, the messages are limited to just plain text. RCS will upgrade today’s business messaging experience by enabling brands to send more useful and interactive messages.
For example, a message from your airline reminding you to check in for a flight can now take advantage of rich media and interactivity to provide a full check-in experience, complete with boarding pass, visual flight updates, and terminal maps on demand, all directly within the messaging experience.
Businesses can also have a branded messaging experience with information about the business and the ability to share content like images, video clips and gifs.
The future of RCS
“Even though RCS would appear to be a good fit for cell providers, it’s a big variable,” he said. “Companies like Google are making a push and drawing more attention to it, but a lot of carriers are wary of partnering with a third party. RCS is a new revenue opportunity for carriers, and the truth is that if they don’t do something, apps like WeChat, Facebook Messenger, and Line will get deeper and deeper entrenched.”
What do you think, "Will RCS messaging be embraced over SMS in the future?"
