Google messages' old iOS chats will soon be Rich Communication Services (RCS)-powered as reportedly announced by the tech giant, upgrading old cross-platform chats with more capabilities.

Previously, group conversations between iPhone and Android users were instantly degraded to SMS and MMS formats, which lack RCS's sophisticated capabilities. However, a new APK code analysis in the Google Messages app's beta version indicates that these earlier discussions may be converted into RCS chats.

Two flags have been found as required to enable this upgrading option. When a discussion is successfully updated, users will receive a popup message reading "You've got upgraded chats". They would also be educated on the advantages of RCS, such as transmitting higher-quality photographs and videos with replies.

RCS functionality for iPhones is now confined to the iOS 18 beta version, but it is anticipated to become more widespread with the official release of iOS 18 this autumn.

Importantly, this projected Google Messages improvement would not be restricted to talks with iPhones; it might potentially improve interactions between Android phones if one participant does not use an RCS-compatible app.

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Google RCS Upgrade Implications

While this capability is not yet publicly accessible, sources indicate it is an important step toward enhancing communications experiences across platforms. It complements Google's current efforts to increase RCS use and improve cross-platform communication.

The upgrading procedure would be automated, with consumers alerted via pop-up notifications. This would provide a smooth transition to RCS, allowing users to reap the benefits without requiring manual intervention.

Although the specific implementation details and timeline are uncertain, the potential impact of this enhancement is enormous. It can significantly improve the quality and utility of communications for millions of people who connect across several platforms.

Google Messages Encryption

This new APK analysis comes as Google messages continue to be updated, with the most recent one seeing the absence the "No Encryption" label from each chat sent to Apple's iPhone RCS, implying that end-to-end encryption may be coming shortly.

In the past, the Google Messages RCS service for Android to iOS exchanges showed the "No Encryption" logo, indicating that the feature was unavailable.   

One of the numerous promises made by Google's Messages, which employs RCS, is the E2EE, a security feature that assures the privacy and confidentiality of one's conversations.

A recent beta server-side modification in Google Messages removed the 'No Encryption' mark from RCS communications between Android and Apple iPhones. While this modification is little, it provides a tremendous experience that will soon be available to both Android and iOS users, implying the imminent availability of end-to-end encryption for conversations on both platforms.   

It will also let users use security and privacy features on both Android and iOS devices without having to worry about insecure talks.

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