Based on 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 also been confirmed by Verizon’s website.
Samsung Messages will cease supporting RCS on Verizon after 6 January. | Picture Credit score – Kickingseven, Reddit
RCS is a brand new messaging protocol that allows you to share recordsdata and images and provides 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 would revert to SMS and MMS. That is going to end in 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 started pre-installing it as the default app on its flagship phones, together with the Galaxy S21, in most nations besides the US.
Then, in 2022, Google Messages became the default texting app on Samsung phones sold in the US. Samsung Messages nonetheless got here put in on telephones, however it wasn’t the default app.
The next big 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 obtainable for obtain within the US, however Samsung warned that some options can be excluded.
Samsung stated at the moment that it wanted to boost RCS adoption by switching to Google Messages as the popular app on its telephones. Verizon beforehand gave the identical motive for shutting down its messaging app.
Should you hate being informed what app to make use of and do not need to set up Google Messages, you may proceed utilizing Samsung Messages, however take into account that it would help solely primary messaging options on Verizon after January 6. For superior options, akin to creating giant teams or sending or receiving images and movies over 5MB, you’ll have to swap to Google Messages.
