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Google Messages is reportedly making strides towards enhancing user experience by introducing RCS (Rich Communication Services) labels for contacts. Though the feature isn’t available to users yet, it was discovered during an APK teardown of a recent beta version of the app, hinting at its potential future rollout.
The APK teardown process involves analyzing the app’s code to anticipate upcoming features, although it should be noted that not all predicted functionalities are guaranteed to be included in the final public release.
At present, when users navigate to the “Start chat” screen within Google Messages, they are presented with a straightforward contact list without any clear indication of whether they would be utilizing RCS or the older SMS standard for their conversations. The anticipated update will introduce an RCS label next to each contact’s name or number, making it immediately obvious who among your contacts has RCS enabled. This enhancement even extends to identifying iPhone users who choose to use RCS messaging.
In addition to the labeling feature, Google Messages is revising its contact list interface to use color differentiation for RCS-enabled users. In light mode, this change may be subtle, with RCS users having their names tinted with Material You accents and SMS-only contacts remaining in standard white. However, the difference in color is much more visible in dark mode, where the contrast is more pronounced.
The RCS labeling feature will also function efficiently for contacts with multiple saved numbers. If only one of those numbers is RCS-capable, the label will only appear next to that specific number. This will aid users in selecting the correct number to message when they prefer RCS capabilities.
Why is RCS labeling significant?
Many may already be aware of the advantages offered by RCS. As an advanced messaging protocol, RCS surpasses traditional SMS by enabling features such as typing indicators, read receipts, sharing high-resolution media, and more. It serves as Android’s equivalent to Apple’s iMessage.
Having the ability to quickly identify which contacts are using RCS can significantly enhance your messaging experience, especially if aspects such as image quality, encryption, or read receipts are important to you. This visibility also offers insight into how widespread RCS adoption is within your circle of contacts.
While there is currently no official word on when this feature will become available to all users of Google Messages, its availability in the beta version suggests that a release could be imminent.
Source
www.androidauthority.com