There are alternative RCS messengers (mostly by carriers, I believe). RCS is a network protocol first and foremost, and while only one single app can register your phone number, there are RCS servers that aren’t hosted by Google, as well as RCS apps that aren’t Google Messages.
I don’t think any of those apps are any good, but the problem here is more a lack of implementation and less an issue with deGoogled phones. You’ll probably lose E2EE if you use RCS in a custom application, though, because that’s not part of the RCS standard.
Only because nobody but carriers have bothered writing RCS capable apps, and of course carriers lock their software to their own network
That’s not RCS’ fault either, and I don’t see why they’d need Google services to be honest.
I’d love to see an open source RCS app. Implementing it is probably a massive pain (hundreds of pages of specification) but the core of RCS is a bunch of HTTPS calls transferring XML documents and text. RCS is not like SMS where you need to interact with the modem driver to send or receive messages.
The biggest challenge will be authenticating, for which you may need to reverse engineer some code. The spec has definitions for this (send an HTTP request to config.rcs.mnc$MNC.mcc$MCC.pub.3gppnetwork.org) but that won’t work when it comes to registering with Google’s servers, which are what most people use. Of course you can use Google’s RCS servers without a Google account, so the authentication process should be relatively straightforward.
I think they mean allowing Signal to use RCS would let them combine all their messaging into a single app and/or use it for RCS on ROMs without Google apps. Kinda like how Facebook Messenger tries to be your SMS app as well, except with apps like Signal, people might actually use the feature.
If RCS is end to end encrypted, and doesn’t use messaging fees, then every reason they decided to drop sms is no longer valid, except for needing to spend more time developing it.
I doubt they’ll add it even if they did have the option, but it’s not ridiculous that they could.
The removal of SMS will be necessary because Google is cutting out third party apps from being able to access the messaging framework, including RCS. Google’s closing the walls around their garden.
High time Google opens up the RCS for other apps on Android.
True. This would be an issue for anyone with a custom ROM. Although Signal is there as an option as well.
Custom ROMs are able to use RCS with Google Messages just fine. It only becomes an issue if you also want to de-Google your phone.
There are alternative RCS messengers (mostly by carriers, I believe). RCS is a network protocol first and foremost, and while only one single app can register your phone number, there are RCS servers that aren’t hosted by Google, as well as RCS apps that aren’t Google Messages.
I don’t think any of those apps are any good, but the problem here is more a lack of implementation and less an issue with deGoogled phones. You’ll probably lose E2EE if you use RCS in a custom application, though, because that’s not part of the RCS standard.
Only because nobody but carriers have bothered writing RCS capable apps, and of course carriers lock their software to their own network
That’s not RCS’ fault either, and I don’t see why they’d need Google services to be honest.
I’d love to see an open source RCS app. Implementing it is probably a massive pain (hundreds of pages of specification) but the core of RCS is a bunch of HTTPS calls transferring XML documents and text. RCS is not like SMS where you need to interact with the modem driver to send or receive messages.
The biggest challenge will be authenticating, for which you may need to reverse engineer some code. The spec has definitions for this (send an HTTP request to config.rcs.mnc$MNC.mcc$MCC.pub.3gppnetwork.org) but that won’t work when it comes to registering with Google’s servers, which are what most people use. Of course you can use Google’s RCS servers without a Google account, so the authentication process should be relatively straightforward.
Signal is great but Signal ≠ RCS
I think they mean allowing Signal to use RCS would let them combine all their messaging into a single app and/or use it for RCS on ROMs without Google apps. Kinda like how Facebook Messenger tries to be your SMS app as well, except with apps like Signal, people might actually use the feature.
Signal cut out their sms integration. Don’t see why they’d have RCS.
If RCS is end to end encrypted, and doesn’t use messaging fees, then every reason they decided to drop sms is no longer valid, except for needing to spend more time developing it.
I doubt they’ll add it even if they did have the option, but it’s not ridiculous that they could.
SMS and RCS are distinctly different techs, the former being antiquated and insecure.
The removal of SMS will be necessary because Google is cutting out third party apps from being able to access the messaging framework, including RCS. Google’s closing the walls around their garden.
I’ve actually never heard of this. Do you have any further reading on this topic?