Key Points:
- Samsung drops its Messages app for Google Messages on US flagship smartphones.
- RCS (Rich Communication Services) is now enabled by default on new Samsung devices.
- Enhanced messaging experience aimed at aligning with Google’s global standards.
Samsung has announced a significant shift in its messaging services for flagship smartphones in the United States. Departing from tradition, the company will no longer pre-install its proprietary Samsung Messages app on its newest models. Instead, devices like the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 will come equipped with Google Messages as the default messaging application.
This strategic decision underscores Samsung’s commitment to enhancing the user experience by leveraging the robust features of Google Messages, which include the advanced capabilities of Rich Communication Services (RCS). RCS offers a more dynamic and interactive messaging experience, allowing users to share high-quality images, and videos, and participate in group chats with ease. Furthermore, it provides end-to-end encryption, ensuring that communications are not only richer but also more secure.
While this change is currently exclusive to the US market, users can still opt to download Samsung Messages from the Galaxy Store, although it will lack certain functionalities available in Google Messages. Outside the US, in regions like Europe and Canada, Samsung continues to ship devices with its messaging app pre-installed. This move represents Samsung’s effort to unify and streamline its messaging services globally, aligning more closely with Google’s standards and ultimately benefiting users with a more cohesive and secure messaging experience.
FYI: Samsung Messages is still preinstalled in Canadian and European builds for the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Fold 6. It’s only U.S. unlocked/carrier units where it’s not preinstalled anymore.
This is something I investigated last week.
— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) July 21, 2024
