Google Messages has taken an important step towards making communication easier and more private. The latest update now shows an RCS (Rich Communication Services) badge next to contacts who support the feature, allowing users to quickly identify whether they can enjoy modern messaging perks like end-to-end encryption, typing indicators, and higher-quality image sharing.
This update is a significant quality-of-life improvement for Google Messages users, as it makes it easier to spot who has RCS. In the past, the only way to determine this was to start a chat and look for the “RCS message” label or “Text message” indicator. The new badge will appear next to contacts in the contact list after tapping the “start chat” button.
The good news is that users on both Android and iOS can benefit from this update, as it works seamlessly with iMessage’s RCS support. This means that regardless of which device they use, users will be able to take advantage of these features.
RCS offers many benefits over traditional SMS, including faster message delivery, richer content support, and end-to-end encryption for added privacy. With Google Messages now displaying an RCS badge, users can quickly identify who supports the feature, making it easier to communicate securely.
This update is a significant step towards making RCS the default on all Android phones, which would bring many benefits for users. For now, it’s available in the latest beta version (20250527_01_RC00), but its release is expected to be wider soon.
Source: https://www.phonearena.com/news/google-messages-just-did-something-simple-that-youll-instantly-appreciate_id170851