Texting has altered the way we communicate, but it is no longer relevant. Sending high-resolution photographs and large files is no longer enough; we want messaging that also allows us to talk with a group, receive notifications when our messages are read, and make video calls.

All of this is made possible by Rich Communication Services (RCS), and the mobile industry is now working together to offer RCS to users around the world, including developing countries.

While RCS messaging was intended to expand the capabilities of mobile networks beyond texting, differing techniques made bringing it to users more complicated and expensive for carriers.

Through the use of the GSMA’s universal RCS profile in conjunction with the Messages RCS client software, carriers may now offer RCS messaging to users throughout the Android ecosystem.

If you prefer to communicate via Google Messages (rather than Chat, Hangouts, or whatever) and your Messages app thinks that you are unable to send an RCS text, here’s a function that you may want to enable just in case: RCS texting. As a result, you won’t have to worry about whether or not your text message has been delivered; instead, it will transmit your message via the less secure but still widely available SMS/MMS protocol. When RCS becomes available again, the switch will be re-enabled. (These instructions are for a device running Android 12; but, as is always the case with Android, results may vary.)