• Latest
  • All
  • How To
RCS on Android

Google RCS Chat is WhatsApp’s True Competitor, Here is How to Activate it

November 15, 2019
Samsung

This Samsung Security Update Could Change How You Use Your Phone

July 9, 2025
tecno ultimate g fold concept

TECNO Joins Tri-Fold Race With Ultimate G Fold Concept Phone

July 9, 2025
Microsoft Edge browser

Microsoft Makes Edge 40% Faster in a Bid to Lure Chrome Users

July 8, 2025
Weak Checks Make Kenyan Digital Lenders Easy Targets for Criminals

Weak Checks Make Kenyan Digital Lenders Easy Targets for Criminals

July 8, 2025
DHgate Tablet Cases deals
Open TV

Open TV Brings Fast and Ad-Free IPTV to Android

July 7, 2025
Microsoft

Laid-Off Microsoft Workers Told to Ask ChatGPT for Career Support

July 7, 2025
nairobi barricades

Live Barricades App Offers Relief to Stranded Nairobi Commuters on Saba Saba

July 7, 2025
Voter Verification Portal Offline Indefinitely for System Maintenance

IEBC Portal Shutdown for Undisclosed Maintenance Period

July 7, 2025
Infinix Note 50 Pro x Java House Collab

Infinix Teams Up with Java House to Launch Note 50 Pro Series

July 4, 2025
Instagram threads

Meta Adds Direct Messages to Instagram Threads

July 7, 2025
Infinix Hot 60i Pre-order

Infinix Hot 60i Now Available for Pre-Order in Kenya

July 4, 2025
Windows

Windows Loses Ground as Users Switch to Mac, Linux, and Mobile

July 7, 2025
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
No Result
View All Result
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
No Result
View All Result
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
No Result
View All Result

Google RCS Chat is WhatsApp’s True Competitor, Here is How to Activate it

Kiruti Itimu by Kiruti Itimu
November 15, 2019
in News
Reading Time: 3 mins read
253
9
RCS on Android

RCS on Android

RCS is an upgrade to traditional SMS text messaging which includes features you see on regular messaging apps like WhatsApp. This is done on the Messages app on Android (you might have this installed on your Android phone). Messages sent via the RCS protocol involve sending messages over the Internet instead of SMS.

It allows you to send high resolution photos, videos and audio files. You can also turn on read receipts to let others know you’ve read their messages. It shows typing indicators  that lets others know you are typing. It basically works like WhatsApp, but on your traditional Messages app.

Google rolled out RCS (Rich Communication Services) Chat yesterday in the United States and it is a big deal. This is something that iPhone users have been accustomed to for years via iMessage and finally Android users can have it.

Although Google started rolling out this feature on Messages in the United States first, you can still get it in Kenya. It involves following a few steps which I’ll outline below.

  • Install the Messages app for Android. If you already have it, great! But you’ll need to join the beta channel so that you can get the version that works currently. (ver 5.3.074)
  • Install Carrier Services from the PlayStore if you do not have the app. Clear the cache.
  • Download the Activity Launcher app from the Playstore.
  • Force stop the Messages (beta) app so as to make sure it doesn’t run in the background.
  • Open up the Activity launcher app. Scroll to Messages, expand the options and tap on “Set RCS Flags”
  • Under the “ACS URL” section, select ‘”http://rcs-acs-prod-us.sandbox google.com/.” option.
  • Under “OTP Pattern”, select the only option listed.
  • Click Apply.
  • Go back to Messages and reload the app

If you’re successful, you should see an odd sign at the top next to the search icon. You’ll now proceed to setup RCS on your phone. Click ‘Agree’ and it will verify your phone number. Follow the prompts and if you’re successful, it will show you are connected under settings.

texting via RCS

There are disclaimers on using this feature.

  • It works with the beta Messages app in my experience so that is key.
  • It seems only to work with one SIM card at a time so if you have a dual SIM phone, you’ll have to choose which phone number to verify for RCS.
  • Texts that are sent via the RCS protocol are labelled in blue to differentiate them from regular SMS.
  • RCS needs mobile data or Wi-Fi to work so as to send media and texts. If your data is off, your texts will be send via regular SMS and you’ll incur carrier charges.
  • Sending texts while via RCS does not eat into your airtime. (cool huh?)

This is a pretty cool thing Google has done here and it will finally make Messages be at par with iMessage. This has the potential to rival WhatsApp since any phone running Android and has Google Services has Messages so the potential is huge. Google might not have had a stellar record with chatting apps like Allo in the past, but RCS has the potential to rectify all of that.

Tags: Google
SendShare148Tweet93
Kiruti Itimu

Kiruti Itimu

Culture Editor. Covers the intersection of Tech, Social Media and Web Culture. Tech enthusiast [email protected]

Related Posts

google gmail

Google Rolls Out AI Cleanup Tool on Web for Messy Gmail Inboxes

June 30, 2025
Subscription Nuisance: Gmail's New Tool Arrives in Kenya

Gmail Now Lets You See and Cancel All Your Email Subscriptions

June 29, 2025
Google Ask Photos

Google Relaunches Ask Photos with Faster, Smarter AI Search

June 27, 2025
youtube google ai

Google Finally Admits To Using YouTube Videos To Train Its AI Models

June 23, 2025
youtube-apple-ai

Creators Can Now Promote Videos Without Leaving YouTube Studio

June 12, 2025
Android 16

Google Releases Android 16 Early with Powerful New Tools

June 11, 2025

Latest

Samsung

This Samsung Security Update Could Change How You Use Your Phone

July 9, 2025
tecno ultimate g fold concept

TECNO Joins Tri-Fold Race With Ultimate G Fold Concept Phone

July 9, 2025
Microsoft Edge browser

Microsoft Makes Edge 40% Faster in a Bid to Lure Chrome Users

July 8, 2025
Weak Checks Make Kenyan Digital Lenders Easy Targets for Criminals

Weak Checks Make Kenyan Digital Lenders Easy Targets for Criminals

July 8, 2025
Open TV

Open TV Brings Fast and Ad-Free IPTV to Android

July 7, 2025
Microsoft

Laid-Off Microsoft Workers Told to Ask ChatGPT for Career Support

July 7, 2025

Best devices

budget smartwatches 2025

Best Budget Smartwatches To Buy in Kenya 2025

February 13, 2025

Best Infinix Smartphones To Buy in Kenya 2024

February 13, 2025

Best Laptops for Battery Life in 2024

August 21, 2024

Best “Battery Warrior” Smartphones To Buy in 2024

August 22, 2024

This Samsung Security Update Could Change How You Use Your Phone

July 9, 2025

TECNO Joins Tri-Fold Race With Ultimate G Fold Concept Phone

July 9, 2025

Techweez is a fast growing influential source of technology news, reviews and analysis by leading tech geeks in the industry.

Follow Us

Editorials

Abductions and Arrests! Kenyan Government’s Fear and Hate of X Users Makes No Sense

Actors and Film Crews Are Worried About Veo 3 Taking Their Jobs

Samsung QLED TVs Now Officially Certified for Real Quantum Dot Technology

Trump’s Tariffs Will Be the End of Affordable Tech

5 Ways to Prep Your Tech for Resale

The Weaponization of PDFs: How Cybercriminals Are Exploiting a Trusted Format

More News

Live Barricades App Offers Relief to Stranded Nairobi Commuters on Saba Saba

IEBC Portal Shutdown for Undisclosed Maintenance Period

Infinix Teams Up with Java House to Launch Note 50 Pro Series

Meta Adds Direct Messages to Instagram Threads

Infinix Hot 60i Now Available for Pre-Order in Kenya

Windows Loses Ground as Users Switch to Mac, Linux, and Mobile

  • Terms Of Use
  • Techweez Brand
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2024 Techweez - Palahala Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
A Palahala Media Group Brand. All rights reserved.
.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
Crunchy Cookies 🍪 Ahead!

Hey there! Just a heads-up: we're big fans of cookies - both the digital and edible kind! 🍪 We use our cookies and some from third parties to ensure your browsing experience on our site is smooth sailing and secure.

 

But wait, there's more! We also use cookies to gather stats and insights on how you navigate our site. It's like getting a behind-the-scenes peek at your digital adventures!

 

Don't worry, you're in control. You can adjust your cookie settings anytime to suit your preferences. Feeling curious? Dive into our Privacy Policy for all the juicy details. Happy browsing! 🚀

Functional Always active
Listen, this legal stuff is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But it basically says we only use your stuff for what you asked us to do, and nobody else gets to peek!
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
It's those sneaky cookie crumbs websites leave behind to count visitors, like counting ants at a picnic! Totally harmless, just for fun facts. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Hey there! Just letting you know we use some fancy gizmos to remember your preferences. This way, we can show you ads that are, well, not completely bananas.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Make cookies
{title} {title} {title}
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
Crunchy Cookies 🍪 Ahead!
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
Listen, this legal stuff is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But it basically says we only use your stuff for what you asked us to do, and nobody else gets to peek!
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
It's those sneaky cookie crumbs websites leave behind to count visitors, like counting ants at a picnic! Totally harmless, just for fun facts. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Hey there! Just letting you know we use some fancy gizmos to remember your preferences. This way, we can show you ads that are, well, not completely bananas.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Make cookies
{title} {title} {title}
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
  • Automotive
  • Entertainment

© 2024 Techweez - Palahala Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
A Palahala Media Group Brand. All rights reserved.
.