Samsung wants to persuade users to use Google Messages

At the beginning of the year, Samsung confirmed that it would be moving away from Samsung Messages and making Google Messages the official app for exchanging messages. Features that were previously exclusive to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 series are now starting to appear on older devices.

Reports on social networks like Reddit and Threads suggest that users of smartphones like the Galaxy S20, S21, and S22 are receiving messages to change their default messaging app to Google Messages. While not mandatory, the move suggests that Samsung is looking to shut down its own app once and for all.

Notifications for this change have been coming out sporadically, and it should only be a matter of time before the majority of Samsung devices are affected.

The switch is likely to be optional initially, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the company disables Samsung Messages entirely in the near future.

Change targets improvements

The reason for this change is related to RCS (Rich Communication Services) integrated into messaging programs. RCS is a protocol considered an evolution of traditional SMS, which, in addition to encryption technologies, can increase the character limit and quality of images sent between devices.

From: @missygail78

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In response to the Android Authority website, Samsung explained that Samsung Messages only supports this feature if the user’s carrier chip also supports it. In Google Messages, RCS compatibility is present regardless of carrier support, which justifies the change.

It looks like Samsung Messages’ days are numbered, as the company has officially announced the transition and is already trying to convince its user base.