Why doesn't Phone Link support RCS?

Question

The only way you can send RCS messages through Microsoft Phone Link is by having a Samsung phone that's set to use the Samsung Messages app and allowed to use RCS in that app by your carrier. That's completely ridiculous in 2024. RCS is not a new thing or special feature anymore, it's a basic texting technology that over 1 billion people use now through Google Messages and even Apple is going to adopt in iOS 18; if Microsoft wants anyone to care about Phone Link, they should've added real support for it a long time ago. They're probably losing a lot of ground to messages.google.com because of this.

Answer 1

Thank you for this workaround. It's insane that Phone Link still has this issue given the universal adoption of RCS. This was a great idea. Again, thank you for sharing!

Answer 2

Good workaround, thanks for the tip.

But who in this forum knows the Phone Link answer? Timeline? Roadmap?

Are any of the three companies waiting on each other for APIs and such?

Answer 3

I have created a feedback post so go up vote it to the moon and back so they finally add in RCS and screen sharing for all android devices! https://aka.ms/AAt4qda

Answer 4

Updated Android supports revert to SMS if message fails. I use Samsung with the new set up. Worst case you click retry from your mobile.

Answer 5

According to one source, Samsung removed RCS support from its Message app starting with the Galaxy 22 when it made the Google Message app the default, The RCS option does not appear in either the Samsung Message app or the Chat More Connection Settings tab of Connections under the general Settings app. If Microsoft Phone Link does not support RCS through the Google Message app, there appears to be no way at present to assure messages sent from a Windows 10/11 PC are sent by RCS.

the conversation when viewed in Google Message on the Android device does appear in the RCS format if the recipient's device is RCS enabled.

Any guidance?