Since 2021, AT&T has offered RCS messaging support for Android phones. However, some AT&T customers have reported issues with interoperability between different devices. To address these concerns and improve the overall experience, AT&T has decided to migrate its RCS backend to Google’s Jibe platform. This move, as announced by Hiroshi Lockheimer, Google’s senior vice president of Android, is expected to provide AT&T customers with instant access to the latest RCS features and resolve any lingering interoperability problems.
The commitment to RCS messaging by major US carriers, including AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, was initially established through the formation of the Cross Carrier Messaging Initiative in 2019. However, it was not until the partnership ended in 2021 and Google became more involved that RCS began gaining traction in the US market. T-Mobile became the first carrier to preload Google Messages on its Android devices in 2021, followed by Verizon in the subsequent year. These developments set the stage for further advancements in RCS adoption.
