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 (by way of The Verge (opens in new tab)) it should be added to group conversations as nicely.

“Finish-to-end encryption is beginning to roll out for group chats and will probably be out there 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 rapidly react to a message with any emoji is coming to Google Messages quickly as nicely. In the mean time, solely a number of emojis can be utilized as reactions.

Alongside a point out of those new options, Google additionally continued to push exhausting for RCS (Wealthy Communication Companies) to grow to be the brand new customary for everybody – the know-how, an improve on SMS, is now broadly out there however has but to be adopted by Apple on its iPhones.

Google’s put up additionally acknowledged the 30th anniversary of the SMS, a milestone which emphasizes how outdated the know-how is in addition to how overdue we now are for the standard that may totally substitute it.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 way in which that we talk with one another – even when the messages have been restricted when it comes to characters, and plenty of telephones may solely retailer a restricted variety of texts at anyone time.

Now, apps like WhatsApp and Slack have taken us far, far past these limitations. Messages will be for much longer and embrace images, movies or audio, and we are able to 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.

Nonetheless, at any time when an iPhone consumer texts an Android consumer, SMS continues 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 likely one of the key causes that folks follow iPhones.

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