topic Re: Samsung's Only the Messenger; Don't Kill the Messenger. in Samsung Apps and Services

Samsung's Only the Messenger; Don't Kill the Messenger.

Ray_Ginald — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 04:13:00 GMT

I see the controversy and raucous regarding the end of support for Samsung's Messages app, and it being replaced by Google's. Heck, it's making headlines in news outlets. The unhappiness and frustration is understandable, especially given that Samsung's Messages app in its simplest form is still better than Google's at its most advanced, in my opinion. But do understand that this doesn't seem like a decision made by Samsung, Google seems to be the pioneer here, from what I could garner anyway. A message came in from my network carrier, AT&T, stating that its RCS Advanced Messaging service will be shutdown in July, just as Samsung said it would its Messaging app. This is no coincidence. I reached out to AT&T, and a rep confirmed to me that the message I got was not only legit, but also correct. So, from what I could deduce, this has been on the horizon and have been planned all along by Google, albeit quietly, and it's now getting all Carriers and Android OEMs to gear up towards this direction.

Samsung, being the biggest manufacturer of Android phones, it would make sense Google tapping them first as their harbinger, ergo reaching wider and further to the audience. Google has been pushing RCS front and centre via their messages app, but since Android OEMs have their own version of app for messaging, compatibility becomes an issue. So, by getting all Android manufacturers to shut down their own app for messaging, and all network carriers to end RCS support for said messaging apps, and have only one unified app across all Android OEMs for messaging, Google can have all Android OEMs and Carriers alike focusing resources on one messaging platform which would make it more fluid to work cooperatively and make interoperability easy, not just among different OEMs but OS' as well. This is probably going to be Apple's iMessage but for Android, moving forward. But, since Google really doesn't have a good track record when it comes to making and sustaining messaging apps longterm — just look at Allo, Hangouts, Google+ Messenger, Duo, to mention a few — I'm not sure how this is going to go, it still remains to be seen. Hopefully, Google keeps improving its Messaging app with useful features and additions and also give OEMs leeway to add their own finishing touches without compromise, in the future.

Re: Samsung's Only the Messenger; Don't Kill the Messenger.

meself — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 04:35:56 GMT

Rcs has always been carrier dependent and in my opinion having just one or two options for the carrier to use makes sense versus like verizon and att etc having to support a separate system vs rcs with google

Re: Samsung's Only the Messenger; Don't Kill the Messenger.

Canthavenicethings — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 06:15:18 GMT

Still think samsung shoukd have fought for their own messager - just for the sake of their phone ecosystem.

Google trying too hard to get everyone's data.
This is weird.
Everyone "encouraged" (forced) to use google?
The more I hear, the less comfortable I am using Google messaging.

Just look up how many lawsuit settlements over data collection google settles every year. Multiple. Every year. Like clockwork. Theyre going to collect our data.

Re: Samsung's Only the Messenger; Don't Kill the Messenger.

Srb79 — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 09:12:54 GMT

Samsung said this would happen 2 years ago and that Samsung messages will shut down. Samsung warned everyone on time

Re: Samsung's Only the Messenger; Don't Kill the Messenger.

Ekamek — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 09:34:40 GMT

Shutting down RCS, a feature, does not equate to forcing users onto an unreliable app just to please data miners. I am 100% good with continuing to use Samsung Messages without RCS. The app I will switch to in July - SMS Organizer - does not support it now and it has been my default until around September last year. Since I switched to Samsung Messages, I like it's current state - no RCS with my carrier.

BTW, I am glad Perplexity is available on supported galaxy devices because Gemini is disabled as soon as I set up my devices.

Re: Samsung's Only the Messenger; Don't Kill the Messenger.

RiverDweller — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 03:29:43 GMT

Same with tmobile! I want a os that is NOT GOOGLE! I feel like I should be getting paid to be forced to use google.. is there an android based os I can use?? I do not like using clouds either, I want my saved things on an SD card.

Re: Re: Samsung's Only the Messenger; Don't Kill the Messenger.

Ray_Ginald — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:18:41 GMT

Hello RiverDweller, yes, apparently all network carriers will be shutting down support for RCS on OEM's messaging platforms. And yes, there are many other non-Google Android OS available. Some of the more popular ones include Lineage, Graphene, Ubuntu Touch, just to mention a few. Other Android OEMs like Huawei have their HarmonyOS, albeit using some AOSP coding, and which comes without anything Google on it.