Despite many attempts to launch a unified messaging system, Google failed every time. Its Google Talk, Google Voice, Google+ Huddles, Hangouts, Allo never witnessed the success that Google was hoping for. In its latest attempt to stand still against the mighty Apple’s iMessages, Google instead of bringing a new app to the table is said to introduce a new system called “Chat” that will be built directly into the default Android Messages app.
Google by the end of this year is said to introduce the new Chat feature and this time it is not following the previous trend. Google also mentioned that its two-year-old Allo development is halted indefinitely and the entire team behind the Allo will be moved work on Android Messages. Chat is the name Google gave to its Rich Communication Services (RCS) which is a new standard that’s meant to supplant SMS, and it will automatically be turned on inside Android Messages.
The chat will include most essential features like read receipts, typing indicators, full-resolution images and video, and group texts. To be clear, Chat is carrier-based service, not a Google service. However, like SMS, Chat won’t be end-to-end encrypted and will follow the same legal intercept standards. The timing to enable the Chat will be dictated by each carrier. The chat will use the internet data, instead of the SMS plan.
If you are texting a user who doesn’t have Chat enabled or not an Android user, your messages will revert back to SMS. It will also get features like GIF search and Google Assistant. It will use your phone number as a profile identifier. Brands like Samsung, Huawei are already on board to including RCS compatibility on their phones. It will also have a desktop top client to Chat.