Google Messages, the popular messaging app from Google, has recently reached a remarkable milestone of 1 billion monthly active users. To celebrate this achievement, the company has announced seven new features that will enhance the user experience. One of these features is a revamped text field with shortcuts to access various functions. Another feature that is coming soon to Google Messages is the support for multi-SIM RCS (Rich Communication Services).
According to 9to5Google, the latest beta version of Google Messages, version 20240102_00_RC01, has some strings that suggest that the app is preparing to support RCS on multiple SIM cards. This means that users who have dual SIM devices will be able to use RCS on both of their SIM cards at the same time. Some beta testers have already noticed some changes in the Google Messages app, such as checkboxes instead of a single SIM icon, that indicate the possibility of using RCS on multiple SIM cards.
A Reddit user has also claimed to have activated this feature and shared a screenshot of it. The user said that after enabling RCS on both SIMs, they could easily switch between their two SIM cards without having to manually swap SIM cards or use different messaging apps.
Google has not yet confirmed when this feature will be available to all users. However, the fact that the strings are already present in the beta version implies that the feature is nearing completion. Once Google is ready to launch it, users with dual SIM devices will be able to see multiple numbers with checkboxes in their RCS chat settings.
Rich Communication Services (RCS) is a new and improved messaging protocol that aims to replace SMS. It offers several advantages over SMS, such as:
Support for multimedia content: You can send and receive high-quality photos and videos.
Real-time chat features: You can see when other people are typing and get read receipts.
Improved delivery and read status: You can be confident that your messages are being delivered and read.
Rich media support: You can add interactive elements to your messages, such as polls, location sharing, and payment options.
RCS is being adopted by many carriers and messaging apps. Google Messages app is one of the most widely used RCS clients, and Google has committed to making RCS the standard messaging protocol on Android devices.