https://9to5google.com/2023/12/26/google-messages-bubble-color-rcs/
We now have some more color on Custom Bubbles, including how Google Messages is limiting it to RCS. Google is still rolling out..
"Meanwhile, Screen Effects’ “vibrant animations that will transform your words into dazzling visual displays” "
Please don't.
I want a Power Mode while typing longer messages. Including the flames, the explosions and the screen shaking!
I live outside of the United States but I’m from there. I like the bubble colors so I can make sure I’m sending free iMessages instead of paid sms messages.
It’s unclear whether rcs will charge for international texts.
If your iMessages are currently free it's because you're using WiFi to send them (or you have a data allotment).
RCS already supports messages over WiFi (& data) already, so it wouldn't cost you either.
I tried to find information on it from the t-mobile website and could not. I’m not sure I trust the carrier to not charge me for rcs.
I understand your aversion to trying it and getting charged - but like iMessage, RCS messages aren't sent by T-Mobile* (which is probably why you can't find anything on how much it costs).
*Unless you send it over mobile data
Both RCS and iMessage work like Whatsapp or any other "data" driving application where it's WiFi/Mobile data to send the message. SMS costs you money because it's sent over cellular only.
However, an easy way to test without getting charged would be to enable airplane mode and then only turn on WiFi. Once you've done that, try sending an RCS message over Google messages.
Remember, RCS only works when the recipient also has Google Messages* and you'll need to have WiFi calling enabled.
Technically, it looks like the default messaging app might work for T-Mobile users.
You’re kind of missing or at least avoiding my point.
You point is that you're an Apple user sending iMessages (which is your admission in an earlier comment) instead of being an Android user in an Android community who could ask his friend "Hey guys, since I'm abroad I need to pay international charges for texts. Could you please do me a favor and install Signal so I can reach you without going bakrupt from chatting? Thanks a lot."
Inside or outside the US? That's the trick. In my experience, the US uses a lot of SMS but also usually have unlimited plans. Most other places don't use SMS, pay for it...but have cheaper and less capped data.
Most mobile operators in the UK have stopped with SMS limits (unless you're on the really really cheap plans or PAYG). Guess people just don't use them enough to warrant caps on it.
Of all the things carriers stupidly charge money for, we couldn't get the one that would actually improve things.
RCS doesn't charge for international texts on Android. I've used it for international texting.
Thanks! I kinda assumed that it wouldn’t. But I also know how telecoms try to charge for everything.
It’s unclear whether rcs will charge for international texts.
It's not unclear. RCS is not SMS in the same way that iMessage is not SMS, so why would you be charged for it?
That’s because iMessage (blue bubbles) has a whole host of built in features that regular SMS doesn’t have. Read receipts, typing indicators, spoiler text, full quality media attachments, doodling, animated emojis, etc… As soon as an android user joins the group chat, everyone gets downgraded to regular SMS (green bubbles) and has a noticeably worse experience.
Yes, it’s Apple’s fault for not playing nice with android, and intentionally using an older version of texting (SMS). But the “bullying” is because everyone in the group chat suddenly has to deal with the lack of features, and starts complaining.
It’d be like if Discord allowed any user to disable emojis, media uploads, reactions, etc for every single server they’re a part of. Every single server would hate them for it.
I understand the reason, and I understand the possible solutions, and I also understand that Apple benefits from picking the one that pressures kids into spending a few grand on their devices instead of supporting and mutually improving RCS.
It's user hostile, and it sucks.
Google touting RCS like it's some big new thing as if it isn't some outdated as hell unencrypted protocol and defnitley has nothing to do with the fact that they have been sitting on their ass not even trying to make a new system all while blaming apple.
God what a mouthful
If it ain't open source E2E, then shut up and sit down.
Google messages as an app can also screw off. Pictochat from the DS had a more usable and nicer looking UI.
E2E on RCS is not a described standard. This is a google addon that requires the use of data/WiFi to function, and is exclusive to the Google Messages App because Samsung torpedoed their own app last year, leaving Google as the only E2E "provider"
::: spoiler spoiler
Functionally, it's not even straight RCS because it bypasses the protocol limitations by using wifi anyway.
At that point, it would be equivalent to using Signal or Whatsapp since they don't run on GSMA either.
:::
To be fair though, I guess this is also partially GSMA's fault for not properly creating a guideline for an updated standard or version.
People genuinely care about message colors? That's so far beyond my level of understanding, I don't even pretend anymore.
I have no evidence of this theory but I suspect that it is partly a result of careful manipulation.
Many buttons/menus in iOS utilize the blue color for text or backgrounds that also is used when you message another iOS device. The result is that it feels congruent and natural within the color scheme of the operating system - if you are messaging an Apple device.
The green color used for messages to non Apple devices is somewhat jarring in comparison and subtly (or subconsciously) gives you the impression that something is not right. Additionally the green that was chosen provides less contrast to the white text (relative to the darker blue & white). So reading the green bubbles is just a little more effort. These effects combine to a general sense of unpleasantness.
I believe all of this is deliberate on Apple’s part and isn’t as simple as someone “caring” about colors but rather the situation being engineered to make them care.
Oh that's actually a very sensible theory, I can totally get behind that. On android I've themed my phone to a pretty much black & white style, so if anything in another color shows up, I'll first assume it's a warning of some sort.
I was hoping to be able to change colors for my group chats to set them apart. So this is going to be SOOOOO helpful for the two people in my contact list that are RCS.
I use QKSMS+ as my message app and can change colors for every contact. I have a group chat with my wife (phone and Google voice tablet) and daughter and they all are different colors.
Yeah I did the same thing with textra. RCS is tying me to Google messages,but sometimes I don't know why I bother. Only 2 people I text with use it and googles app ain't the greatest.
Googles tablet app barely tips the scales at the moment as the free one I tried (Join) was kind of inconsistent and the paid ones are too much. But man, googles tablet app is ass too.
Sadly yes, my fiance gets so much shit from her dumbass coworkers who all have iPhones for "ruining their group chats".
This is really silly. The kind of people who care about bubble colors aren’t going to change phones because Google added bubble colors.
If you are using stock android you are using google messages
I don't because everyone uses Signal, WhatsApp and Telegram.
So the google messager uses SMS it is the default SMS app. What concerns me is the fact google wants to read my messages.
I think the majority of people run stock android. Most people aren't savy enough to install a custom rom
I use it because on some phones the emergency alerts are tied into the message app, and also Android requires that only one app registers itself as the message app at any given time and only that app has access to the SMS database.
On those phones, using a different app means you don't get alerts. And in my country emergency alerts are actual life-threatening events.