RCS Chat - what is the point??

[matticus]

Seems to be that the current best practise (and widely compatible) tools are:
- got data? Whatsapp
- no data? Text messages (SMS)

So I can't see any point in RCS (which smartphones keep trying to force on you during an innocent SMS exchange).

AITAH?!?

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

My understanding is RCS provides more complete functionality (eg incl. photos, files, etc. which over mobile would use MMS which if often charged outside contract).

But I have it disabled as EE routes it through Google and shares information related to it with Google and I'm stricter than many over privacy and who gets what information about me.

From EE's Privacy terms

Also for privacy reasons I won't use WhatsApp and won't provide my main phone number to people who do (unless they block WhatsApp from getting at their Contacts. Instead I use Signal.

 

[a.twiddler]

I wasn't aware of RCS (though I have an older phone so still use SMS). Since I ditched WhatsApp in favour of Signal when the former was acquired by Facebook I'm also keen on minimising the amount of access Google has to my data (though it's a fading hope bearing in mind I've given in to family pressure to have an Android phone). I keep the apps to a minimum.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I had problems with RCS a couple of years ago.

I was out on a ride, I texted my wife about some delay or other. I was out of data coverage but no worries, SMS doesn't need that. What I didn't realise was that my new phone had replaced my messaging with RCS, that didn't work. So she never got notified.

In short. I can't see any point in it either.

(Edit - buried in the settings is an option to fall back to SMS if RCS fails. It's set to no by default)

(Edit - here's a thread in which I rant about it https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/when-is-an-sms-not-an-sms.283973/)

(Edit - all that does not mean that you are not the AH)

 

[Reynard]

RCS will tap into internet vie wi-fi if in range, rather than use data.

I am on Tesco's most basic data package a month, so internet is usually turned off on my phone. Which makes RCS quite useful if I don't want to use whatsapp. I've set my phone up to switch to SMS if I'm out of reach of either my home wi-fi or free, when I'm out and about.

 

[Drago]

My phone is turned off until I want to use it. I decide when I can be interrupted when out and about, not a little glass and plastic machine.

 

[AndyRM]

My understanding is RCS provides more complete functionality (eg incl. photos, files, etc. which over mobile would use MMS which if often charged outside contract).

But I have it disabled as EE routes it through Google and shares information related to it with Google and I'm stricter than many over privacy and who gets what information about me.

From EE's Privacy terms
View attachment 818922
Also for privacy reasons I won't use WhatsApp and won't provide my main phone number to people who do (unless they block WhatsApp from getting at their Contacts. Instead I use Signal.

Random nerd fact: WhatsApp actually uses the encryption protocol built by Signal, but rather than keep messages private Meta has full access to them.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Random nerd fact: WhatsApp actually uses the encryption protocol built by Signal, but rather than keep messages private Meta has full access to them.

Thought the latter was only true in group chat where they don’t end to end encrypt. Thought they end to end encrypted one to one “chats”. They keep and store all the meta data about with whom and when you have been chatting with others and their numbers. They will also grab all the details in your phone contacts if they can. Even details about contacts not on Whatsapp. I stay off Whatsapp myself, using Signal.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

They will also grab all the details in your phone contacts if they can. Even details about contacts not on Whatsapp. I stay off Whatsapp myself, using Signal.

Likewise but also I won't give out my mobile number to anybody what does use WhatsApp (if they really need phone contact I give them my Signal Username - NOT phone number now that Signal allows you to enter a text name not based on the phone number and allows you to change it whenever you want).

 

[matticus]

...
Which makes RCS quite useful if I don't want to use whatsapp.

Yeah, sure, if you want to avoid Whatsapp I get that. For me it's almost a non-option, as it's other people that have railroaded me into Whatsapp. I haven't (yet) had a private messaging session with myself.