Google is preparing another major new feature for texting on Android

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After failing to popularize its various messaging applications, Google decided to bet on RCS technology, an advanced version of SMS. Currently, the firm offers this messaging system by default on the Messages application on Android, which manages text messages. And in recent years, the Mountain View firm has continued to improve RCS text messages. For example, today, RCS between Android smartphones is already end-to-end encrypted. As a result, in addition to offering advanced messaging functions, Google offers security comparable to that of WhatsApp or Signal, for compatible text messages (for example, RCS between an Android and an iPhone is not end-to-end encrypted).

On the other hand, until now, RCS on Android does not yet support the Dual SIM functionality, which is nevertheless offered by the majority of commercially available smartphones. In other words, you can only use RCS on one number, while your second phone number has to make do with old-school SMS. But the good news is that Google is fixing that problem.

Indeed, according to a 9to5Google article, Google has been working for months on dual SIM support for RCS texting on Messages. And currently, this new feature is already being tested in beta. Recently, the media reported that more and more beta users have the ability to use RCS on two SIM cards at the same time. And some users would even be able to enjoy this new feature on the stable version of the Messages app.

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Dual RCS working on latest beta
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RCS, the new standard for texting

As a reminder, Google has supported RCS for a while. However, Apple’s support for the technology only arrived in 2024, via the iOS 18 update. This support allows Android and iPhone users to communicate without relying on SMS or third-party messaging apps like WhatsApp. However, as mentioned above, RCS between iPhones and Androids is not yet encrypted.

In 2024, Google and Samsung also strengthened their collaboration to push the adoption of RCS. Samsung notably began to abandon its own messaging app (which supported RCS) in favor of the Google Messages app. This allows the Android ecosystem to have a more consistent messaging experience. And it may also boost RCS adoption around the world, since Google Messages uses Google's RCS servers.

• Google continues to improve RCS texting, the enhanced version of SMS it already offers on Android
• According to 9to5Mac, the company is continuing the beta rollout of support for the Dual SIM feature, which will allow RCS to be used on two SIM cards on one smartphone
• 2024 was a big year for RCS technology, as Apple finally supported it on the iOS 18 version of its operating system

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