Samsung teased earlier this year that it was working to bring Google's RCS messaging into the Samsung Messages app, and now it looks like that feature has started rolling out.
Some Samsung Galaxy owners are now seeing Google's RCS chat features appear in the Samsung Messages app. As you can see in the screenshot below from Reddit user ChunkyLoverMark, a popup will appear in the Samsung Messages app when Google's RCS chat becomes available for you (via XDA).
Once activated, you'll see "Enter chat message" in your text box. You'll also see blue chat bubbles instead of green ones and you'll have read receipts, too.
RCS, or Rich Communications Services, offers several upgrades over traditional SMS text messaging. They include read receipts, support for chatting over Wi-Fi as well as cellular data, typing indicators, higher quality images and videos, and improved group chat.
Google already offers RCS chat in its Messages app. And while Samsung has offered some RCS features in the Samsung Messages app previously, those were enabled through your carrier. Enabling Google RCS chat means that Samsung users will have those improved chat features no matter which carrier they're on, and they'll get them within Samsung's own Messages app rather than Google's Messages app if they prefer Samsung's offering.
Neither Samsung nor Google have officially announced the rollout of Google's RCS in the Samsung Messages app, so right now it looks like this is a slow rollout. That means that if you don't see it in your app yet, just give it some time.
Do you use RCS chat features?
