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

This! ☝️

Answer 2

Any update on this? It's super annoying to have a group chat on my phone, and if I'm at my computer and reply to it, it starts a whole new thread with whoever is in the group. We don't need any of the features of RCS chat, though that would be cool, but keeping my replies in the same group would be dope.

Answer 3

I was thinking the same last week! Its ridiculous. I use a pixel at the link ro windows app does not make sense at all. 1_Messages dont support RCS so its a no!

2_Phone calls is a stupid idea since nowadays all Bluetooth headset support 2 devices i can answer my phone calls and my teams calls using the same headset.

3_pictures is not a bad idea but i already upload everything to OneDrive so i never use the phone link

4_the only cool feature about link to windows is to mirror your phone screen and use the phone apps but again this is only available to Samsung which i will never use.

I am glad that windows 11 is moving awaya little bit from link to windows and the cool features added to windows are through mobile devices like modify a screenshot on your computer or use your phone as a webcam

Well, taking a phone call is a stupid idea if you have had a headset soldered to your head. I don't, so this is a handy feature, as well as an obvious feature...
I don't use the photo link much; except for screenshots, they are immediately available (on OneDrive almost right away too, but other users may use another service, or the company selling the phone decided)...
Then yes, using the camera on the PC, instant hotspot, and having access to the full phone storage!

In fact, while it is now homed by the GSMA, Google is deviating from the standard... and then, GSMA standards like MMS were a flop. I realize that RCS is mostly used by Google Messages... and I do not use Google Messages! Not Apple anything. My carrier offers in some business offerings. It's really yet another Google messaging system after Talk, Google+, Hangouts Universal success. So the least interesting feature for me would be RCS. There are so many existing apps for doing the same thing, and they are used by everyone... I see that Signal, WhatsApp, Skype, and Messenger would also be compatible on one-to-one messaging... A very big mess, in fact.

I checked my frequent contacts; a few had RCS shown as available, and the rest were SMS/MMS...
So I understand the wish to have this feature, but then I do not see this as "foundational"... or useful in fact. It's useful to Google, all those messages, so much data, or try and compete with Meta & co maybe ?

There are still tons of features to use that are not related to RCS... and you can still stream your screen. Really not a "feature," just another way to do what we do anyway with other means.

At first the Phone app was done in partnership with Samsung since one Android needed to implement the exchange protocol... Now there is the Phone Link app, but in Android 15 it will not allow sharing some notifications (like the one containing an OTP...) to untrusted apps, which includes on Google phones, Phone Link... It's Google embracing competition as always. And at the same time this year, Samsung Message now suggests using Google Messages and apparently will be terminated at some point.
There are alternatives too ;)

Answer 4

So one cannot use Google Messages?

Answer 5

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.