Android Next-Gen Messaging explained

Learn about the new Rich Communication Services for Android smartphones

Rich Communication Services (RCS) is the next generation messaging technology that improves messaging by offering a native, richer and universal experience across networks and Android devices.

Features

On select Android devices, Next-Gen Messaging gives you chat messaging features in select conversations, including:

  • Group chats

  • Read & Delivered receipts

  • High-resolution photo and video sharing

  • Audio messaging

  • Share location

What you need

Next-Gen Messaging is available on:

  • A TELUS wireless monthly plan with data, or an active Wi-Fi connection.

  • A Samsung smartphone running Android 9.0 (Pie) and up with latest
    Samsung Messages
     version

  • Any other Android smartphone running Android 5.1 (Lollipop) and up with latest
    Google Messages
     version

  • A TELUS Consumer or Business/Corporate accounts

Note
: Please check our device-specific
interactive tutorials
 for more information on how to use Next-Gen Messaging on your device.

Turn on Next-Gen Messaging

  1. Open
    Android Messages

  2. Select
    Settings

  3. Select
    Chat features

  4. Tap or slide the
    Enable chat features
    toggle to
    On

Note
: When Next-Gen Messaging is provisioned for the first time on a compatible device, you will be prompted to turn on chat features when opening Android Messages.

Using Next-Gen Messaging

When chat features are turned on, it will automatically be used if you are messaging another device with chat features enabled. This includes customers with compatible devices across our Koodo and Public Mobile brands, across major national Canadian Operators (Bell, Rogers, Freedom Mobile), across any Operator in US/UK/France/Mexico, and more than 100 Operators worldwide. For more information on global launches, please visit GSMA site
here
.

Next-Gen Messaging sends messages over Wi-Fi or cellular data when Wi-Fi is unavailable, rather than through traditional SMS. This means, if you do not have a data plan and are not connected to Wi-Fi, your messages will be sent as SMS, or you may incur pay-per-use data charges when using Next-Gen Messaging.

If you only want to use Next-Gen Messaging in a Wi-Fi connected area, please ensure you turn chat features off when leaving a Wi-Fi connected area to avoid unexpected data charges.

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