Google Messages: dual SIM RCS finally arrives on Android smartphones

Google Messages, the default messaging service on the majority of Android devices, is evolving its RCS (Rich Communication Services) protocol, allowing enriched message exchanges, similar to those of iMessage or WhatsApp, including options such as receipts. , input indicators, and sharing high quality images.

Until now, these functions were only available on a single SIM card, leaving out a large proportion of users in dual SIM configuration. An era that seems to be over, since the Mountain View firm is currently deploying a beta offering simultaneous support for RCS on two SIMs.

Google Messages

Google Messages is the application dedicated to SMS and MMS, on Android. It also uses the RCS protocol which allows messages to be sent even without a network with an internet connection (WiFi).

• Downloads:
  648
• Release date:
  10/21/2024
• Author :
  Google LLC
• License:
  Free license
• Categories:
  

  Internet – Communication

• Operating system:
  

  Android, Online Service
  

It's been several months since Google is working on this compatibilityand the first tests open to the public show a progressive deployment. Google Messages beta testers, located in several countries including Canada, Pakistan and the United States, said on Reddit have been able to activate RCS on their two numbers simultaneously via beta 20241018_01_RC00.

Thanks to this new setting, users can now individually activate or deactivate RCS for each SIM directly in the application settings. This option simplifies the choice of line to send enriched messages according to individual needs, whether it is a physical SIM or an eSIM. Some US carriers, such as T-Mobile, Verizon and Google Fi, already support the feature in testing, which appears to work on popular smartphones, including Samsung.

For now, the service is not yet activated for all users, as the deployment remains limited to the beta version and controlled by Google servers. Those who wish to explore this feature can install the latest betaalthough there is no guarantee that it will work on all devices.

This gradual deployment suggests that Google is in the adjustment phase, undoubtedly seeking to stabilize this new feature before making it available to everyone. In any case, the integration of the RCS with two numbers simultaneously is good news in terms of securitywith a number of measures put in place by Google.