In response to a screenshot of a message acquired from Verizon shared by a person on-line, Samsung Messages, the texting app designed for Galaxy telephones and tablets, will disable RCS after 6 January 2025. This has additionally been confirmed by Verizon’s web site.
Samsung Messages will cease supporting RCS on Verizon after 6 January. | Picture Credit score –Â Kickingseven, Reddit
RCS is a brand new messaging protocol that allows you to share recordsdata and images and gives a typing indicator and skim receipts. It comes with extra options than SMS/MMS and solely works over the web.
In case you are with Verizon, Samsung Messages will nonetheless work in your gadget, however it is going to revert to SMS and MMS. That is going to lead to a degraded communication expertise, which is why the provider is recommending you turn to Google Messages. Google’s app was additionally positioned as a substitute for Verizon Messages+, which is able to cease performing on December 9.
Samsung has been making an attempt to push its customers in the direction of Google Messages since 2021, which is when it began pre-installing it because the default app on its flagship telephones, together with the Galaxy S21, in most international locations besides the US.
Then, in 2022, Google Messages grew to become the default texting app on Samsung telephones offered within the US. Samsung Messages nonetheless got here put in on telephones, but it surely wasn’t the default app.
The following huge step was taken in July 2024 when, beginning with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6, Samsung stopped pre-loading Samsung Messages on its telephones in favor of Google Messages. This was solely true for US-bound fashions, with the European and Canadian variants nonetheless that includes Samsung Messages. Samsung Messages remained out there for obtain within the US, however Samsung warned that some options could be excluded.
Samsung stated at the moment that it needed to spice up RCS adoption by switching to Google Messages as the popular app on its telephones. Verizon beforehand gave the identical purpose for shutting down its messaging app.
In the event you hate being informed what app to make use of and do not need to set up Google Messages, you’ll be able to proceed utilizing Samsung Messages, however take into account that it is going to help solely primary messaging options on Verizon after January 6. For superior options, corresponding to creating giant teams or sending or receiving images and movies over 5MB, you’ll have to swap to Google Messages.