For some time, Google (Alphabet) has been pushing an alternative to SMS under an acquired company called Jibe. Jibe leans on something called the RCS standard to deliver what Google promises would forge a "reliable global infrastructure and a consistent user experience" to help deliver "better messaging everywhere." Once known as "joyn," RCS (rich communication services) is more multimedia focused, more flexible, and enables greater multimedia sharing capabilities during phone calls.
The problem? Here in the States only Sprint supports the initiative, with T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon refusing to participate. As a result, momentum has been hard to come by.
Undaunted, Sprint and Google this week formally announced that Sprint now supports the technology for the company's Android customers. According to the two companies, the new RCS technology provides a number of new features to the traditional SMS experience, including group chat, read receipts, higher-quality images and more. Sprint users interested in trying out the new functionality will need to use Google's Messenger app.
"Today, we’re excited to announce the next step in this initiative with our first carrier launch supporting the new universal RCS profile," Google RCS chief Amir Sarhangi wrote in a blog post.
"Next year, all new Android devices from Sprint will come with Messenger for Android preloaded as the default SMS and RCS messaging experience," states Sarhangi. "Subscribers currently using select LG and Nexus phones from Sprint will have the messaging experience upgraded automatically through an app update, and subscribers using other Android devices can download Messenger from the Play store."
While Google says the company is preparing to announce additional RCS partners in the coming months, it remains unclear if Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile will be joining the push. If you're a Sprint customer that has had a chance to play with the new service, give us your impressions in the comment section below.
Source: http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Google-Sprint-Launch-Enhanced-RCSBased-Messaging-138287