Looks like Google has no plans of leaving anything out of the tech revolution. With mobiles and apps changing faces every day, text messaging remains held back with limited features and few updates.
As usual, Google is the hero of change by investing in Rich Communications Services (RCS), a new standard for carrier messaging which brings many of the features that people now enjoy from mobile messaging, such as high-resolution photos, group chats and more.
Contributions from leaders in the wireless industry have brought forward the evolution of RCS. Now Google wants to join in and take a look at what Android can do to take RCS to the next level and deploy the technology in more consistent ways.
Alongside the initiative, Google announced on its official blog that it is bringing in the Jibe Mobile team. Jibe, the leading provider of RCS, has a technology focused on a new version of SMS text messaging that is better able to handle features such as group chat, high-resolution photos and video chat.
Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
Deploying RCS to create an even better text messaging experience on Android will take time and collaboration throughout the wireless industry, but Google is excited to get started.
Meanwhile, Jibe's CEO Amir Sarhangi has expressed his excitement for Jibe, a company which started small with an aim of changing the way people communicate using their mobile phones.
"Our persistent position has gradually been vindicated, first by our customers - who in every way deserve credit for our success - and now by Google's belief in and commitment to us. We promise to stay true to our roots and keep building great products for our customers," wrote Sarhangi on the company's blog.
Jibe started in 2006 when the Internet growth had exploded and mobile was picking up steam. While smartphones were becoming popular, iPhone and Android had not yet been born.
