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Open source Android messaging app that does RCS? (lemmy.one)
submitted 9 months ago by to c/foss@beehaw.org
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I would love to replace the official Google messaging app I can't find an app that does RCS messaging. I need to be able to text between someone with an iPhone if that matters. Any suggestions?

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[–] 17 points 9 months ago*

Doesn't exist, sorry.

Has to do with how RCS works. It's a crappy "protocol" that's bound to hardware and software like Google Messages.

Best to move on from it - it's was born dead on the vine.

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    [–] 6 points 9 months ago*

    As of last year Google was still the only real provider for RCS and its "encryption" was completely transparent to them. I'm currently using Deku SMS for normal texting (icky) and agree with the other comments recommending Signal as an actually usable modern messaging service

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    [–] 5 points 9 months ago* (1 child)

    Why isn't anyone recommending Signal? That's also using RCS, no? Or maybe just E2EE?

    Edit: nvm, it's its own protocol for E2EE. probably better that way anyway. I've got several group chats that all use RCS, but that sounds like it's TLS encryption and likely not encrypted on the servers where it could still be carrier accessed. I'll have to look into it more

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  • [–] 7 points 9 months ago

    Worse, RCS isn't always E2EE. After Apple begrudgingly added it to iMessage, they've made sure that iPhones don't support its encryption, and I don't think they display reactions and such properly. Meaning a group chat with a single iPhone in it can't be encrypted.

    That and the annoying dependence on carrier and proprietary software support - even with google messenger I've had RCS just give up sometimes and go to SMS only.

    At this point, using an actual E2EE messaging system like Signal makes a lot more sense.

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    • [–] 2 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    your best bet (for now) is using an existing alternative what you want is "cross-platform + decentralized + E2EE"

    there are several options, for example: matrix, delta chat, and XMPP

    people will reccomend signal, it's centralized, don't use it

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