This isn’t entirely accurate. RCS itself is an open protocol, meaning anyone can use it.
The locked down/restricted version of it is Googles version of RCS, which they expanded on to add things like end to end encryption (which don’t take me wrong, is nice to have).
But, once the towers supported data, nothing was stopping them from implementing the standard RCS form, or even designing their own modified form that was open access that anyone can use. The latter honestly may have forced google to open their version sooner as they would risk losing leader status on the RCS protocol if they didn’t.
That’s honestly a good solution to a lot of proprietary services based off open protocols. Just make an open version that has similar features and invite everyone else. insert blackjack and hookers joke here
It did have RCS on T-mobile, though it was a bit restricted, couldn’t run on unlocked phones without some dial code tinkering. I gave up on it after a couple years
Yes it was extremely annoying. Had to dial in and do some very hacky phone code entry. Then it would work for a few months until they tweaked something on back end and it would cut out again. It was a shame as I actually liked Samsung Messages; I know people criticized it as duplicative, but it was cool how it would sync across devices, fit in with native one UI style, etc.
I ended up bailing on samsung message a few years back due to their refusal to do anything RCS based, not surprised they dropped it
They couldn’t use RCS even if they wanted to
Google controls all
This isn’t entirely accurate. RCS itself is an open protocol, meaning anyone can use it.
The locked down/restricted version of it is Googles version of RCS, which they expanded on to add things like end to end encryption (which don’t take me wrong, is nice to have).
But, once the towers supported data, nothing was stopping them from implementing the standard RCS form, or even designing their own modified form that was open access that anyone can use. The latter honestly may have forced google to open their version sooner as they would risk losing leader status on the RCS protocol if they didn’t.
That’s honestly a good solution to a lot of proprietary services based off open protocols. Just make an open version that has similar features and invite everyone else. insert blackjack and hookers joke here
It did have RCS on T-mobile, though it was a bit restricted, couldn’t run on unlocked phones without some dial code tinkering. I gave up on it after a couple years
That may have been my problem, I had no option for RCS at all on my unlocked s20 through tmobile
It appears so. I had an unrooted S20 with T-mobile and it did have the option to enable RCS (tried it for a bit but it was pretty useless)
Yes it was extremely annoying. Had to dial in and do some very hacky phone code entry. Then it would work for a few months until they tweaked something on back end and it would cut out again. It was a shame as I actually liked Samsung Messages; I know people criticized it as duplicative, but it was cool how it would sync across devices, fit in with native one UI style, etc.