Samsung has begun replacing its preinstalled Messages app with Google Messages on some new devices to accelerate adoption of Rich Communication Services (RCS). The change was first observed on phones shipping with One UI 6.1.1 that arrived without Samsung Messages in certain countries.
When asked about the transition, Samsung clarified its reasoning. In a statement to Android Authority, the company said that it has been working closely with Google on communication services and that making Google Messages the common default messaging platform across Android “will accelerate the adoption of Rich Communication Services (RCS) and deliver a more robust and engaging mobile messaging experience to Galaxy users.”
This decision highlights Samsung’s focus on improving messaging for its customers while supporting broader adoption of RCS across the mobile ecosystem.
RCS is the modern successor to SMS and MMS, bringing richer capabilities such as high-resolution photos and videos, emojis, stickers, and location sharing. It also supports advanced messaging features like real-time read receipts, typing indicators, inline message replies, and stronger security. These features apply to group chats as well, offering a substantial upgrade to traditional text messaging.
Samsung’s move is timely given recent shifts in the messaging landscape. Apple announced plans to introduce RCS support for iPhones with iOS 18 following scrutiny by EU regulators, a development that could lead to millions of iPhones gaining RCS in the coming months. That push toward cross-platform compatibility appears to have encouraged closer collaboration between Samsung and Google to help unify messaging across Android and iOS devices.
For now, the change is limited to the United States, but Samsung executives have suggested this approach could expand to other markets. Additional details and wider rollouts are expected to be announced in the coming months.
By adopting Google Messages as the default on select devices, Samsung aims to simplify the messaging experience for Galaxy owners while contributing to the goal of standardizing RCS as the primary messaging protocol. This alignment with Google supports a more interconnected, feature-rich messaging environment for all smartphone users and may help bridge longstanding differences between Android and iOS messaging features.
As the mobile industry evolves, cooperation between major vendors such as Samsung and Google to promote RCS adoption could mark the start of a new era in mobile communication, improving interoperability and modern messaging capabilities across platforms.
(Photo by Lacie Slezak)
See also: ITU-R appoints Samsung researcher to lead 6G coordination group
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