Seeing who supports RCS became easier with the latest update to Google Messages. With this update, the New Chat List points out which of your contacts you can message with RCS.

This way, you can immediately see when it’s fine to use typing indicators. Check if messages have been read, and enjoy sharing high-quality media.

How is the New Chat List different now?

Before, if users created a new message in Google Messages, the contact list they could choose from was only simple and quiet. 

Both Google and Apple are including green checkmarks for any contacts who support the new RCS service. For example, icons or quick labels next to people’s names explain if they use modern chat.

This action is one of many by Google to drive RCS as the main messaging system on Android. Google is highlighting people who can use RCS messaging. It does so in order to promote using the richer features in the Messages app.

Why This Is Important for Users

Your experience is more effective with RCS than with SMS. You can now see when another user is typing.

Check to see when your text was read.

Ability to share photos and videos of high-quality

Users can enjoy texting by using Wi-Fi or mobile data.

Improvements in how we control group chats

Up to now, it’s not always been clear which people have RCS and which ones are missing it. With this update, you’ll be able to see right away who you can share media with through user profiles.

A Start to Better Messaging Technology

Google has been promoting RCS and teamed up with providers and phone manufacturers. It aims to get it launched around the world. 

RCS has gone ahead and crossed more than a billion active users. This is now said to be supported in most Android devices. Such updates help normalize and promote RCS in place of the far older SMS technology.

The new indicators for contacts are rolling out in the new beta version of Google Messages. It may soon come to stable versions of the app in the upcoming weeks.

Final Thought

This update of the New Chat List may seem light. However, it has brought one more additional improvement to the Android Messaging experience. The users can now directly see which contacts support RCS.

If you have, however, not seen the update yet, there is no need to worry. Google is gradually rolling it out, and it should hit your phone shortly. Overall, this minor update speaks volumes about Google's mission to better communication and improve convenience on Android. 

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