T-Mobile has partnered with Google to upgrade the Android messaging experience on T-Mo and Metro by T-Mobile.
T-Mobile revealed today that it's implemented a full standards-based RCS Universal Profile 1.0 interconnect with Google's Messages service. T-Mo has been offering RCS for years, but now its RCS messaging will interconnect with Google's, meaning T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers can enjoy RCS and its benefits with other Android users around the world.
To take advantage of this new feature, T-Mobile and Metro customers will need a phone that supports RCS Universal Profile 1.0. There are nearly 40 devices on T-Mo and Metro that support the feature, and most recent Android devices should be included in that number. You'll also need to be messaging with someone using the chat features in Google's Messages app.
So long as you meet those requirements, you should be good to go. T-Mobile says its customers don't need to do anything or download any over-the-top app to get RCS because they're built into T-Mobile's network and the phone's messaging app.
T-Mobile actually began offering RCS way back in 2015, but at that time it was limited to a single Samsung device. Both T-Mo and Google have been working to expand RCS in recent years, and now the two have teamed up to ensure a smooth RCS messaging experience between T-Mobile and Metro customers and other Android users around the world.
RCS messaging offers several benefits over regular SMS texting that most folks are probably used to. Those include typing indicators and read receipts, high-resolution photos and videos, and the ability to chat over Wi-Fi as well as cellular.
Do you use RCS messaging on Android?
