RCS – An Update from O2

[Chris_K]

A final reminder for all our Samsung Messaging customers! 

Our Rich Communication Messaging Service (RCS) is moving to Google, so please ensure you follow one of these sets of instructions to prevent you from losing your Rich Communication Service. To retain your Samsung Messaging App:

1. Ensure your device software is completely up to date (Go to Settings > tap Software update >Tap Download and install)
2. Then check for a ‘Configuration Update’ in your notifications.
3. Install the ‘Configuration Update’ from Samsung
4. Restart your device
5. Check your ‘Chat Settings’ are active
6. Open up your Samsung Messaging Application
7. Accept the Google’s terms and conditions presented

OR

You can change your Samsung Messaging App to the Google Messaging App:

1. Download the ‘Messages by Google’ app from the Google Play Store: play.google.com/store/apps
2. Open the App
3. Accept the Google Terms and Conditions presented

If you do not do either of the above, then you do risk losing your Rich messaging service and all messages will revert to SMS or MMS only. For further information: https://support.google.com/messages/answer/7189714?hl=en-GB

What is RCS?

RCS (Rich Communication Services) is a messaging technology for Android that works very similarly to how iMessage does on iPhone, or even WhatsApp. Using your native messaging app (e.g., Messages on Samsung devices or Messages on Google and other Android devices), you can do things like share photos & videos, your location, voice notes and more – which essentially sends those via your data network without touching your allowance or charging you for an MMS. And because RCS uses your native messaging app, if you’re not connected to a data network or WiFi, then it’ll fall back to standard SMS/MMS messaging until you regain a data connection; something that WhatsApp can’t do for example as that needs a data connection to send any kind of message.

What’s happening?

We’re closing down our RCS platform and migrating all existing RCS users across to Google’s own RCS platform called Jibe. Jibe will provide the RCS service for Virgin Media O2 for all Google and Samsung messaging applications in the future.

Google Jibe is already used by other UK mobile networks and the reason we’re doing this is because Google have plans for their RCS service to make it even better than it is currently, and with all UK networks using a single shared platform, the service can be developed at speed which will give customers a better service, sooner. We’re unable to do the same thing with our own RCS platform and so this is an easy decision for us as it’ll result in a better experience for our RCS users in the future.

What will you need to do, and when?

Please follow the instructions above, which will allow us to migrate you across to Google Jibe, you’ll need to accept Google’s T&C’s to continue using RCS technology.

[Raknor]

I've had no RCS for nearly 14 days

[Ben12233]

I still havent been askedto accept google terms and conditions andhave no RCS available

A lot of good men died today

[Ben12233]

I haven't been prompted to agree to thetermsandconditions lol

[Ben12233]

MY RCS has been shut off too I am in thedark ages here

[pgn]

If you get the message to accept the Google RCS t&cs and accidentally swiped it away, how do you get back to it? Asking for a PAYG friend:

(as when I RCS (?) them, the send fails until I send it as an SMS)

[madasaf1sh]

@pgn 

This might help...

https://support.google.com/messages/answer/7189714?hl=en

There is a nuclear option which is to wipe all data and cache from the messages app..

[madasaf1sh]

My RCS came back online this afternoon 

@Ben12233 @Raknor @Royster  so keep an eye on your Google Messages App..

[Royster]

Got the message earlier today as well 👍

[MI5]

I got the message, accepted the terms and was registered and working within a minute.

[JackG]

So basically we can still keep using the Samsung messages app. It can't be uninstalled. I mean we can always fall back to Signal messenger which is far better and more reliable Facebook owned WhatsApp. I mean even some of the co founders like Brian Acton and Moxie Marlinspike left WhatsApp to join Signal.