Google has introduced that it is bringing end-to-end encryption to group chats within the Google Messages app. The safety improve is heading to beta customers first earlier than being rolled out extra broadly.
Finish-to-end encryption means nobody, not even Google, can learn the content material of messages. It is already supported within the Google Messages app for one-to-one chats, however now (through The Verge (opens in new tab)) it may be added to group conversations as effectively.
“Finish-to-end encryption is beginning to roll out for group chats and will likely be accessible to some customers within the open beta program over the approaching weeks,” Google says (opens in new tab). “This shouldn’t even be a thought – simply an expectation and one thing anybody texting shouldn’t have to fret about.”
From SMS to RCS
In the identical announcement weblog put up, Google revealed that the flexibility to shortly react to a message with any emoji is coming to Google Messages quickly as effectively. For the time being, solely a number of emojis can be utilized as reactions.
Alongside a point out of those new options, Google additionally continued to push arduous for RCS (Wealthy Communication Providers) to turn into the brand new customary for everybody – the know-how, an improve on SMS, is now broadly accessible however has but to be adopted by Apple on its iPhones.
Google’s put up additionally acknowledged the thirtieth anniversary of the SMS, a milestone which emphasizes how outdated the know-how is in addition to how overdue we now are for the standard that may totally substitute it.
Evaluation: SMS ought to actually be historical past
The arrival of SMS three many years in the past helped to rework the best way that we talk with one another – even when the messages had been restricted when it comes to characters, and plenty of telephones may solely retailer a restricted variety of texts at anybody time.
Now, apps like WhatsApp and Slack have taken us far, far past these limitations. Messages may be for much longer and embrace photographs, movies or audio, and we will even inform when recipients have opened up the messages we ship them.
It is advantages like these that make RCS a worthwhile improve, enhancing the safety of messages and making options resembling group chats significantly better. Google did not create the usual, however it’s closely selling it.
Nevertheless, every time an iPhone person texts an Android person, SMS remains to be the protocol used. Google needs that to vary, nevertheless it’s unlikely that Apple ever will – Apple is aware of that iMessage is among the key causes that folks keep on with iPhones.
