Google Messages receives end-to-end encrypted RCS group chats

Google has introduced that it’s going to start rolling out end-to-end encrypted RCS group chats in Google Messages beta within the subsequent few weeks. Google’s messaging app has supported one-to-one encryption for some time now, however this is a crucial step to ensure most of your conversations cannot be learn by carriers or Google.

In an announcement put up on Friday, Google mentioned the function can be “accessible to some customers within the open beta program within the coming weeks,” so it might be some time earlier than it is typically accessible. Google has additionally formally introduced that they’re engaged on a function that may let you use any emoji when reacting to an RCS message; the corporate was seen testing final month.

Whereas Google’s announcement put up is styled as a farewell to SMS messaging, most of us will not be capable of give it up so simply, as Apple has up to now refused to deliver the know-how to iOS. (Tim Cook dinner even advised one person who a greater resolution is to purchase his mother an iPhone.) Google acknowledges this and takes a couple of pictures at its competitor, concluding the put up by saying, “all main carriers and producers have adopted RCS. as commonplace – apart from Apple”, and that Apple’s use of SMS “means their messaging is caught within the 1990s”.

It is the most recent in a extra one-sided struggle between Google and Apple over RCS, with the Android maker apparently attempting to publicly disgrace Apple into adopting the usual, arguing it will make issues higher for everybody.

The thought has usually been that Apple’s iMessage is an honest competitor for iPhone customers, although that might not be the case for for much longer; Given Apple’s stance on privateness, there was some concern that iMessage’s end-to-end encryption may very well be damaged for those who or the particular person you are speaking to has iCloud backups. If Google Messages’ RCS group chats do not have this downside, this, together with choices like WhatsApp and Sign, which have additional expanded the ambitions of encrypted group chats, could be a greater possibility for most individuals.