Verizon to Make Google’s Messages Default App on Android Devices From 2022

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

With that transfer, Verizon would be 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 exchange SMS-based texts.

Apple’s iMessage is proscribed to customers who use the corporate’s units, 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 photographs and movies, chat over WiFi or mobile information and know when messages had been learn, amongst different options.

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

“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