WhatsApp along with other instant messaging services grew in popularity in the early days of smartphone due to their improved messaging capabilities. Although carriers have struggled with the rising popularity of the apps, over last couple of years Google has been pushing RCS messaging and now, TMobile has announced that the company is parting with the search engine giant to make RCS messaging the default messaging app for customers.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen cellphone carriers pushing RCS messaging. Despite Google’s efforts, RCS messaging hasn’t caught up to users yet. However, if other carriers join TMobile moving forward, Google’s messages might be answer to iMessage after all.
Talking about the latest partnership, Hiroshi Lockheimer, Senior Vice President of Platforms and Ecosystems at Google, said, “This is a win for Android users and an even greater win for the Android ecosystem. T-Mobile and Google have been working together to champion Android since the very beginning with the launch of the T-Mobile G1 in 2008. We’re taking what has already been a long and very successful relationship, and building on it to bring Android customers even more features and services.”
Apart from making Google Messages the default SMS app on the smartphones sold through the carrier, TMobile confirmed that it’ll be using YouTube TV as its TV service instead of the current one.
