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T-Mobile could be rolling out RCS support to subscribers (Update: probably not)
The claims that T-Mobile was starting to roll out RCS messaging to its customers originally came from this Reddit thread. It has since been verified that the user who started the thread is not a T-Mobile customer, and also that the tweets referenced by the user as proof that T-Mobile was starting the rollout are inaccurate as well.
Basically, there's no concrete evidence that T-Mobile is beginning to roll out RCS to its customers in Google Messenger. We'll be sure to update you if we hear any other details on the situation.
Original post: T-Mobile subscribers posting on Reddit and Google+ indicate that the carrier could be in the early stages of its Rich Communication Services (RCS) rollout.
Though most users report that they don’t yet have the functionality, an uploaded screenshot suggests it’s live for some users, and that it could be linked to T-Mobiles Digits service.
The RCS features available include optional message read receipts (like the blue ticks in WhatsApp), typing indicators — so that you know when somebody is writing a message to you — and the chance to let Wi-Fi or data take over messaging when available.
RCS is a messaging standard that succeeds SMS and MMS, providing network-messaging options that the current standards can’t offer. While this includes text and multimedia messages, it also allows for up to 10 MB picture messaging (i.e. higher quality picture messaging), group chats, location sharing — even video calls — as well as the enhancements above that some T-Mobile users have access to.
Carriers Sprint and AT&T have already adopted RCS messaging, while Verizon is yet to make any moves on the service.
It’s interesting but with generous data plans and mobile apps which can achieve much the same, how successful RCS is going to be is up for debate. In other words, even with those features, why would I not just message with WhatsApp?
For everything else you need to know about RCS, hit the link.