Verizon Communications will make Google’s Messages the default messaging app on all Android gadgets it sells beginning subsequent 12 months, the US wi-fi provider mentioned on Tuesday.

With that transfer, Verizon would be a part of friends AT&T and T-Mobile US in propping up competitors to Apple’s iMessage service.

Alphabet-owned Google’s Messages comes with options just like these in iMessage, utilizing Rich Communication Services (RCS) expertise to switch SMS-based texts.

Apple’s iMessage is proscribed to customers who use the corporate’s gadgets, and the iPhone maker has not but indicated any plans to increase the function to Android customers.

With RCS, customers can ship and obtain high-quality images and movies, chat over WiFi or mobile knowledge and know when messages have been learn, amongst different options.

Earlier this 12 months, AT&T and T-Mobile introduced they might make Google’s messaging app because the default one on all their Android gadgets.

“Customers using Verizon’s Message+ app will also get full access to RCS capabilities by the end of the year,” Verizon mentioned in an announcement.

© Thomson Reuters 2021